Over the last few decades power, information and resources have moved
from being concentrated in the hands of a relatively small number of
people and institutions, to being dispersed across many. Events on the
world stage such as the arrival of Wikileaks, the Arab Spring of 2011,
the Global Financial Crisis, the social media revolution and flashpoints
such as the British MP Expenses Scandal have further hastened this
process.
The proposition offered by Robin Ryde in Never Mind the Bosses is
that our organisations need to catch up, and that the “death of
deference” that we are seeing elsewhere in society needs to be
accelerated in the workplace and in management. It looks at modernising
corporations and institutions to make sure that energy, potential and
talent is not wasted in favour of those in power. It explores levelling
control so that previously disadvantaged people are empowered rather
than having to immediately defer to those in a higher position. By
concentrating decision-making power in the hands of the deferred to, the
opportunities for broadening and sharing responsibility are
significantly reduced. This is not in the interest of the company as it
prevents the diversity of voices, ideas and solutions that might
otherwise flow through the organisation.
Never Mind the Bosses gives insights into how to spot
organisational deference, to understand the dynamic behind it and to
create alternative ways of doing business that deliver better results
and therefore more engaged and fulfilled employees. It offers a solution
to a problem that belongs in the last century, and a game plan for
nothing short of a workplace revolution.
www.nevermindthebosses.com
