The paradoxes of organization
We think of organizations as a way to coordinate work and get things done, which is true enough. But at the same time, every organization is a bundle of contradictions and conflicts.
For example, an organization must have a way to attract and retain members, or it will cease to exist. At the same time it must constrain people’s behavior, or it won’t be able to get anything done. This means any organization has the oxymoronic goal of being an attractive prison.
I’m collecting organizational paradoxes for a potential book.
I will be updating and revising this list over time. If you have any paradoxes to share, or stories that illuminate any of the paradoxes I’ve listed here, or if you’d like to offer counterpoints or contradictions, please do! I’d love to make this list as comprehensive as possible.
The more of an expert you are in one thing, the fewer things you can get really good at. Conversely, the broader your perspective and viewpoint, the less deep you are in any one area. If you're very deep, you miss out on subjects which can compliment you or you can get blindsided. However, people who have the breadth to put it all together conceptually are always reliant on those who actually know how to make the pieces work.
Well, we do many things differently at InspireHUB and it really comes down to what part of behavior you are looking to optimize or coach from your players. For example, I have some very UNIQUE problems at my company caused by the way we are organized and the fact our people enjoy almost full autonomy. Such as my people not taking enough vacation time (even though they can take as much as they want) and my needing to regularly implement work "curfews" to curb the hours that people are doing which usually results in at least 1 email that says "I know I know, we're not supposed to be on tonight but I had this one great idea happen...." Which is why I also have to regularly monitor my staff to see they have a life outside of this place and are getting enough rest. (We are a tech company so when there is an issue that needs resolving it can be long hours of troubleshooting.) The strange reality I now live in is that the MORE autonomy and freedom I have provided my staff the less "traditional management" problems I have. Imagine! When you treat adults like adults they rise to the occasion! Who would have thought!?!?! (That's sarcasm for those who don't know me.)