EGOSYSTEM or ECOSYSTEM?

Is your organization running on an egosystem or ecosystem?

When it comes to organisational leadership structures, small business owners and leaders make the mistake of creating businesses built on a traditional, hierarchical structure.

Unfortunately, most of these top-down business structures are built on the flawed model of an egosystem…a disempowering top-down “I’m the boss, you report to me”, even the flatter ones.

It is a mistake because the world has changed. It’s a mistake because power usually sits at the top and most of the information sits at the bottom. Rarely do power and information sit at the same table. Also, the vision is usually held at the top and diluted as it is cascaded down the hierarchy. 

All of this is self-protection, control, and hoarding of power also doesn’t allow for the team to bring their best self to work every day nor the open flow of ideas in the business. Any time someone challenges anything within an egosystem, it is potentially considered wrong—even if it is a brilliant idea.

Instead, build an ecosystem of leadership within your organisation. An interdependent, interlinked network of teams where the best idea wins, not the boss’s idea. A structure where every team member has a direct line of sight to the purpose through the lens of the values. A structure where you become a coach, not a boss.

 

“Top-down leadership is a thing of the past. All around leadership is the way forward.” – a Clarism

 

Ecosystems create motivation that promotes the development of close, mutually supportive relationships by energizing behaviours intended to be constructive and supportive and not harmful to others. 

This way the best idea wins…not the boss's idea.

The result is that your teams will be inspired to work with you, creating more productivity, performance, and way more fun.

In many businesses I have coached it was evident to me that the better the parts of the organisation (sales, service, admin, finance, production etc) worked together as an interdependent, well-oiled machine focused on the greater good (purpose), the company would be very successful. 

When ego gets involved, it means we are focused on ourselves first. So in reality purpose doesn’t stand a chance.

Organisational purpose and our customers belong at the centre of our focus. If we all collectively focus on those two things in harmony (ECO), we work for the greater good. We make decisions for the greater good. We may even achieve beyond the greater good and create something remarkable.

When we look at what’s in it for me (W.I.I.F.M.) and make sure I take care of myself or my area of immediate responsibility (EGO) first, I am not working for the greater good.

When you are part of an organisation or association does it work to serve the greater good and work together?

Ecosystem: Working together and focused on the well-being of the whole

Or does it get infected by egos that seem self-serving at times?

Egosystem: Working entirely on the well-being of an individual.

So I ask you to take a look at your organisation, the teams, and the associations you are a part of…do you belong to an egosystem, or an ecosystem on purpose?

 

Dave Clare, CEO & Founder - Circle Leadership

 

WEEKLY CLARISM

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