The Next Next Common Sense
Decision rights frameworks take many forms. Technology company Spotify distinguishes between "what" decisions (strategic direction, gen- erally made centrally) and "how" decisions (implementation approaches, generally made by teams). This distinction creates coherence between strategic alignment and tactical flexibility. Develop coaching rather than controlling leadership. Today's leaders create coherence not through directives but through questions that help teams align their decisions with organizational purpose. Microsoft has shifted performance discussions from evaluation to coaching conver- sations, transforming how managers support autonomous teams. Coaching leadership requires specific capabilities. Consumer goods company Unilever implemented its "Transformational Leadership" pro- gram, which trains managers to ask powerful questions rather than pro- vide answers. This approach creates coherence through guided discovery rather than directive oversight. Implement lightweight coordination mechanisms. Autonomous teams still need to coordinate effectively. Spotify's "chapters" and "guilds" connect team members across the organization, creating coherence with- out heavy-handed integration. Coordination mechanisms take many forms. Software company Automattic (creator of WordPress) uses "P2s"—internal blogs that doc- ument team decisions and progress—to create transparency across au- tonomous teams. This documentation creates coherence through shared awareness rather than formal approvals. Build skills for autonomy. Effective autonomy requires specific ca- pabilities—from decision-making to conflict resolution—that organiza- tions must deliberately develop. Morning Star, the self-managing tomato processing company, created its "Colleague Letter of Understanding" pro- cess, providing a framework for employees to negotiate responsibilities and accountabilities directly with peers. Autonomy skills development takes many forms. Technology com- pany Buffer implemented "Decision Stacks"—frameworks that help team members understand how to make decisions based on their scope and
311
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease