It's time to reinvent management. You can help.

Increase trust, reduce fear

“The most critical challenge for any organization is to enlarge the circle of trust.”

Command-and-control systems reflect a deep mistrust of employees’ commitment and competence. They also tend to overemphasize sanctions as a way of forcing compliance. That’s why so many organizations are filled with anxious employees who are hesitant to take the initiative or trust their own judgment. Organizational adaptability, innovation, and employee engagement can only thrive in a high-trust, low-fear culture. In such an environment, information is widely shared, contentious opinions are freely expressed, and risk taking is encouraged. Fear paralyzes, mistrust demoralizes—they must be wrung out of our management systems.

124 Stories
236 Hacks
22 Barriers

Increase trust, reduce fear

“The most critical challenge for any organization is to enlarge the circle of trust.”

Command-and-control systems reflect a deep mistrust of employees’ commitment and competence. They also tend to overemphasize sanctions as a way of forcing compliance. That’s why so many organizations are filled with anxious employees who are hesitant to take the initiative or trust their own judgment. Organizational adaptability, innovation, and employee engagement can only thrive in a high-trust, low-fear culture. In such an environment, information is widely shared, contentious opinions are freely expressed, and risk taking is encouraged. Fear paralyzes, mistrust demoralizes—they must be wrung out of our management systems.

Filter By:
When was the last time you looked at a Dilbert cartoon and a big smile appeared on your face?
Hack by Olivier Lavergne on December 1, 2010
Recruitment, especially at the higher levels, is such a costly affair. It becomes more expensive once the recruit fails in the task he is expected to perform.
Hack by Madhusudan Rao on July 2, 2010
It is time we recognize that our current approach to leadership development is a waste. $50 Billion and research says there is nothing to show for it.
The days of management are over.
Hack by Debabrat Mishra on May 17, 2010
The "Gambling Joint" is a simple, bare-bones organizational pattern that I believe can produce a living and fun organization.
Hack by Fabio Cecin on March 29, 2012
How often did I hear managers tell me that the way they had to behave did not reflect who they were any longer, their behaviour was dictated by the system they were in, it was coming from the top down
Hack by Olivier Lavergne on December 1, 2010
The widely held notion that the Chain of Command is no longer prevalent in the organizational dynamic is untrue.  Although many companies claim to not adhere to a formal organ
Hack by Vidia S. Ramdeen on October 6, 2010
Traditional management implies someone higher in the hierarchy is managing my performance. People can only manage their own performance.
Hack by Peter Bunce on November 8, 2012
Innovation = FUN!!!     But How?  Integrate the organization by linking each computer and employee into a video game via software.  The core functions of the business can
Hack by Vidia S. Ramdeen on July 30, 2010
Interestingly enough, many management surveys show that there is a high degree of trust from employees toward their first-line manager and that trust is eroding level after level as we are getting clo
Hack by Olivier Lavergne on November 29, 2010

Pages