The Next Next Common Sense
treating these as separate identities, she has created a coherent personal brand that integrates these diverse facets. This integration allows Blakely to move fluidly between contexts— from operational meetings to media appearances to investment de- cisions—while maintaining authentic consistency. Her Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation exemplifies this integration, connecting her busi- ness success directly to her philanthropic work supporting women entrepreneurs. Blakely’s approach demonstrates how individuals can create coher- ence across diverse roles not by compartmentalizing but by finding the underlying values and purpose that connect seemingly different activities. Transitioning to Role-Multiplicity Organizations While the examples above demonstrate the power of role multiplicity, many organizations struggle to transition from traditional models that enforce single-role identities to more adaptive approaches that embrace multiplicity. This transition doesn’t happen overnight but follows a devel- opmental path:
Phase 1: Recognition
The journey begins with explicit recognition of the multiple roles that already exist within the organization. This typically starts with leadership acknowledging their own multiple roles and creating space for others to do the same. Simple practices like: • Conducting "role mapping" exercises where team members iden- tify all the roles they currently play • Creating forums where people can share challenges of navigating role conflicts • Documenting the unofficial roles that contribute to organiza- tional success but aren't captured in formal job descriptions
137
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease