Traditional work rules with their misguided attitudes like “I need authority to do this task”, or “This is not my job description”, or “I don’t control this” are no longer relevant to current work realities. Classic top-down management still allocates budgets, but the work itself is done through highly ramified networks of interdependent relationships. No manager today has sufficient power, funds or resources to effectively deal with the powerful hurricane of problems and challenges.
According to Keith Ferrazzi, founder of the consulting firm Greenlight and author of Never Manage Alone, a characteristic of the new world of work should be considered absolute interdependence. We publish excerpts from the book that explore this theme.
Network of networks
Thanks to networks of interdependent relationships, agile and nimble startups have wrested supremacy from the hands of giant matrix-organized industry leaders with great track records and excellent reputations. Back in his best-selling book, Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi emphasized the critical importance of creating opportunities through authentic, generous mutual support relationships in your personal networks.
Today, that message is still relevant. But the new world of work has added another member to the equation. Our personal networks have evolved over time to become the primary environment for getting work done. And because in most organizations all people are connected through these deeply interdependent networks, effectiveness is ultimately determined by our ability to inspire, serve, and lead our network.
So think of it as a network of networks.
Who’s the boss?
Analyze your work situation. Are you, as a manager, solely responsible for all the resources you need to carry out your job responsibilities? And if you’re a rank-and-file employee, does your boss manage all the resources you need to keep your team effective?
If you think you have such limitless power, you’re probably underestimating the impact you could then have on your organization. Ask yourself, who do you rely on the most to get things done that are not part of your vertical reporting line? There are likely to be many people on the list beyond your direct reports and members of your work team.
Meanwhile, so many of us, rank-and-file employees and managers alike, are still fixated on the questions: who’s the boss? Who’s officially calling the shots around here? Keeping
up with the times
By continuing to work under the old rules, we run the risk of not keeping up with the times. Every moment spent gaining more control over resources to achieve our goal becomes another precious moment wasted. Such moments are much better used to build relationships and co-create with people and resources outside of your direct control. In this way you will find ways to help each other develop new opportunities and see new perspectives that will ultimately allow you to achieve more.
The age of total interdependence requires us to work more closely and fruitfully with people we don’t control, because only then can we fulfill our mission and successfully move our organization forward.
We all need to start thinking of ourselves as leaders and innovators regardless of the position we hold.
Based on the book Never Manage Alone.
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