Blog | 17 March 2023
Increased self-organisation leads to greater engagement
What is it like to work in a workplace without hierarchy and managers? Without titles, where you and others take initiative and make decisions and set your own salary? Where you are the pilot of your own future?
Fredrik Stodne has been named Sitevision Most Valuable Professional three years in a row, and now he is guest blogging with a post about the Teal organisational model.
Have you heard of the Teal organisational model? I hadn't either until a few years ago when Frederic Laloux's book Reinventing Organisations External link, opens in new window. landed on my desk. The thesis of the book is that many of today's organisations are designed and managed according to outdated principles and ideas. We are human beings who think and feel. But times are changing, and we all need to adapt to that. We live in a complex world that we need to influence, relate to and adapt to.
"I like the freedom to shape my own workplace and work situation. I like the personal responsibility, which is very rewarding for one's personal development. I like the advisory process, where you can draw on the expertise of your colleagues."
Sara
Of course, change is difficult. But if you have been involved in influencing it yourself, it becomes both more enjoyable and easier to do. That is precisely why we at Soleil have chosen to design and run our organisation according to Teal – which actually allows for this. We are preparing ourselves for the changing world we live in, and making sure we have a lot of fun along the way.
"The transition to Teal is something that not many people have done. The path is quite unknown. We don't know the path we're on completely, and we're learning all the time. That alone feels really exciting. It's fun to be involved in shaping a new type of organisation!"
Jonathan
Trust
The colour Teal is used to symbolise this new way of organising in relation to the classic cog-in-the-machine organisations symbolised by the colour orange. Imagine working in an organisation where it is not about everyone thinking alike, doing alike or being alike? Where interaction is what matters. Interaction that strives to reach its full potential for the good of the whole! Where you trust your colleagues and they trust you. Trust then becomes the light in everyday life, enabling us to see clearly! You don't have to be involved in everything, just what engages you the most. Trust that every colleague wants the best for the organisation. We usually symbolise Soleil with an empty chair that anyone can sit on. If I were Soleil, how would I think and feel about this issue?
"It was the question of trust that made me realise what was going on. At first, it was a bit scary that mandates were being handed out freely, until I realised that we have to trust everyone's ability to make wise decisions." Jonathan
The rules of the game
But without managers, can anyone make decisions? Yes, in principle! We have an advisory process for decisions, which means that you talk to those who have knowledge of issues relating to the decision and those affected by it. There is also a framework, rules of the game, which we have decided on together. Soleil has a few simple principles that constitute the rules of the game for the entire organisation. Each customer team then has its own rules of the game, which can change over time.
Intranet and self-organisation
How are the digital workplace and self-organisation connected? When we decide together how, when and where we want to work, it is important to have tools that support this collaboration. Being able to communicate with each other quickly and easily and share information and documents facilitates transparency and participation. An intranet in Sitevision that all employees can access via their computer or mobile app, where anyone can share information and knowledge, start video meetings, create groups to interact in and work with structured document management. If you want to work in a more self-directed and self-organised way, transparency is required. A good intranet where every employee has access to all information facilitates this.
The digital workplace is not just about technology
It is easy to focus solely on technology. That platforms and AI will solve everything for us when so much of what we do and experience is human and interpersonal. Without managers and hierarchies, everyone has the opportunity to take on a leadership role, but also the security of trusting their colleagues and following the decisions made together. Culture becomes more important than strategy, and your actions and behaviour influence how you want the culture to be. Make sure you get to know the individuals in your team, listen and try to ask open questions.
At Soleil, we have just begun the process of setting each other's salaries. An incredibly exciting task that teaches us a lot about collaboration, communication and trust!
The journey
There is inflation in the use of the word journey, but for Soleil, perhaps the journey has only just begun, or have we come a long way? Our journey is a transition to a different organisation than the classic ‘orange’ one. Instead of a goal, it is more of a direction. A direction that every individual at Soleil and our customers can influence.
Want to know more?
Feel free to contact me to hear more about Sitevision, self-organising teams and Teal!
