A common picture of the ideal organization

May 18, 2009

Even though organizations have different purposes and strategies, I think we tend to have a common picture of the ideal characteristics of an effective organization. I wonder if these are the things you are trying to bring about in your organization:

  • Multi-directional trust (leadership, employees, peers)
  • Transparency and feedback
  • Ample, clear, compelling, consistent communication
  • High-performing teams
  • Data-based decisions
  • Accountability to results
  • Clarity of vision
  • Congruence of personal work with organizational goals
  • Alignment between business units and departments
  • Breakdown of silos, turf wars, and self-protection
  • Atmosphere of mutual respect
  • Employee engagement
  • The idea of a “well-oiled machine”, efficient standardized processes
  • Effective, value-added meetings

I would love to hear what else you might add to this list, and if any of these would actually decrease your success.  Please share using the comments.

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Comments

One Response to “A common picture of the ideal organization”

  1. Stefan on May 19th, 2009 10:55 am

    It’s sort of in there with multi-directional trust, but something about empowerment/autonomy – where strategy is clear and individuals at multiple, maybe all levels have autonomy to make real-time decisions as needed to advance strategy. Something like autonomy and accountability — buzzwords of the charter school movement, but powerful.

    no one likes silos and turf wars, but I wonder if your description of the ideal should be about what is present, not what should be absent.

    and how about being a fun place to work?

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