Michael Lissack
occurs when boundaries become barriers—when limits designed to pro- vide focus begin preventing necessary exchange. And it emerges when context changes but canyons designed for previous conditions remain unchanged despite environmental shifts. The risk of canyons becoming dams is particularly acute in digital environments where systems can unintentionally codify outdated assumptions or values. Organizations should monitor specific warning signs that indicate when canyons are becoming dams: Warning Sign #1: Permission Escalation Patterns When teams increasingly seek permission before taking action, the canyon may be nar- rowing into a dam. Monitor the frequency of approval requests, especially for decisions that previously happened autonomously. Establish regular “permission pattern reviews” where teams analyze which decisions are being escalated and why. Warning Sign #2: Decreased Experimentation Velocity When the pace of experimentation slows, it may indicate boundaries have become too constraining. Track metrics like the number of experiments initiated, time from idea to implementation, and the diversity of approaches being tested. Declining trends often signal canyon restrictions. Warning Sign #3: Language Shifts from Principles to Rules Listen for subtle shifts in organizational language—from “we prioritize customer needs” to “the policy states customers must...” This linguistic evolution often precedes behavioral changes. Consider implementing periodic “lan- guage audits” of documentation, communication, and meeting discus- sions to detect these shifts. Warning Sign #4: Homogenization of Approaches When diverse teams begin using identical approaches despite different contexts, canyon walls may be too prescriptive. Monitor the variety of methods used to solve similar problems across teams. Healthy canyons produce consistent outcomes through diverse approaches suited to specific contexts. Warning Sign #5: Declining Innovation Metrics Track innova- tion outcomes like new feature adoption, novel solution implementation, and breakthrough problem-solving. Downward trends may indicate that
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