Organic Organizational Design and A New Skill for the Toolkit: Persuasion

In a republican nation, whose citizens are to be led by reason and persuasion and not by force, the art of reasoning becomes of first importance. -- Thomas Jefferson

The most important persuasion tool you have in your entire arsenal is integrity. -- Zig Ziglar, Motivational Speaker

In the growing numbers of non-hierarchical institutions, the ability to persuade colleagues and direct reports is becoming an increasingly valuable skill. In a recent WSJ column Erin White writes: "Managers say they increasingly must influence -- rather than command -- others in order to get their own jobs done." White quotes the list of tips IBM gives employees:

• Build a shared vision
• Negotiate collaboratively
• Make tradeoffs
• Know who can help achieve your goal
• Build and maintain your network

See White's article, Art of Persuasion Becomes Key: Managers Sharpen Their Skills as Line Of Authority Blurs.

How has this come about? When did organizations become non-hierarchical? Is the professional workplace the new "republican nation?" ( i.e. a state in which the head of government is not a monarch or other hereditary head of state.) Is this not fantastic news?

Architect William McDonough, founder of the Cradle to Cradle initiative, uses the example of a cherry tree in his staff brainstorming sessions. While working on designs and solutions, they ask, "How would a cherry tree do it?" Not only are they using an organic metaphor for solving problems, they assign nature metaphors to product and architectural design, considering the life cycle of the product (as opposed to say, unleashing toxin-ridden products into the economy and letting buyers and municipalities deal with their disposal) and further, looking at industrial materials as "nutrients."

A significant shift in thinking in the knowledge age is the use of biological metaphors rather than machine metaphors. -- Hinrichs Consulting LLC: Strength Based Continuous Improvement

The organic organizational model reflects the changes in the information age, and is more closely related to models of consensus and cooperation. Communities are held together and progress by the power of purpose, shared beliefs, and identity - not by force. -- Hinrichs Consulting LLC. The growing numbers of non-hierarchical, organically structured workplaces call for more highly developed basic human skills and values--integrity, reasoning, lots of verbal, lateral communication, and the ability to work well with others.

More on Organic Organizational Design from Hinrichs Consulting LLC can be found here.