Introduction:
This is the 3rd article in a series that began as a single article and now appears to be becoming a 4 part series. The articles have been addressing the impact of Informal Networks on businesses today. The previous 2 articles detailed the reasons why management by Org Charts and job descriptions is an inferior way to build a 21st century organization and began to explain the importance of recognizing the impact of Informal Networks in the workplace.
Because the concept of these networks are so new to so many I wanted to take the opportunity in this article to address some of their characteristics. I will also provide some insights on how to engage them such that they allow you access to them in order to release their vast potential into your organization.
Those who become adept at engaging these networks will be the people who will build the most successful organizations and will have the most satisfying careers.
To that end, the intent of this series of articles is to help show you how to do just that.
Characteristics of Informal Networks:
Lowell Bryan and Claudia Joyce, authors of “Mobilizing Minds” said it best: “In an informal network, people start working together because they have self interests in common, not because they are being forced to work together. In other words, they work with each other because they find it beneficial to do so. People join an informal network because of the value of the knowledge they receive and the personal relationships they build.”
This is an example of how different the worlds of Informal Networks and Org Charts are. Org Charts and job descriptions are things most people are pretty much forced to adapt to whereas Informal Networks are much freer. This is why they are so much more productive.
So lets list a few characteristics of healthy Informal Networks that anyone who is seeking to effectively manage them must know:
• They are loyal to the cause. One of the reasons people form Informal Networks at work is to be able to work around inefficient Org Charts to more effectively get their jobs done.
• They are social in nature. They abide by rules of social etiquette and have respect for the individual.
• They are self selecting. You can’t force your way into one nor can you force your way to the top of one. (Think of a clique in high school that you wanted to join. Unless they accepted you, you were out.)
• They are self policing. Problems are resolved by the participants.
• They are self sufficient and resilient. They don’t need acceptance or permission from management to exist.
• They function more as tribes than hierarchies. Leadership is fluid and alternates based upon the issue at hand and the competency of the individual.
• They are brilliant. Because they are competency based and thrive on collaboration and interaction a much greater % of the collective IQ of the group is accessible and in play.
• Leaders serve the group as opposed to commanding the group. Ego plays a much smaller role because the network doesn’t tolerate or empower one who is “all about themselves”.
• They are subtle and elusive. If you are a threat to them, or try to overtly control them they will go underground and avoid you.
• They are powerful. Anything that is this dedicated, creative, innovative, intelligent, resilient and flexible and has the support of the people is powerful.
• Their hubs of influence are often not those empowered by the Org Chart. They empower only those people who have demonstrated competency in an area. Issues like office politics or seniority matter little to the network.
• As you review these characteristics it becomes clear why it is imperative to learn how to interact with these networks. They possess tremendous amounts of capabilities that are unrecognized and untapped when operating your organization using Org Charts and job descriptions as the factors which determine “who” can contribute and “how”.
In summary, it can be said that Org Charts and job descriptions serve to pigeonhole and limit employee involvement whereas Informal Networks seek to encourage and embrace employee participation.
Effectively Engaging Informal Networks:
The first thing to realize is that management does not and cannot control these networks.
Once again I refer to Mr. Bryan and Ms. Joyce who authored “Mobilizing Minds”: “if you were to study these Informal Networks you would come to a surprising conclusion: Very little knowledge among thinking-intensive people actually flows through the official hierarchical structures of the company. If you were to ask people, in fact, about their valuable interactions (that is creating and exchanging information and knowledge), they would tell you that the formal structure of the company, as manifest in the organizational chart, is not really how the work gets done.”
That pretty much says it all right there. Management is blind to these networks because the people want it that way. How often has management gotten in the way of progress through over active egos, unnecessary bureaucracy, executive politics or simply not understanding what really needs to get done? The answer is obviously “quite often” otherwise the people would have had no motivation to create these highly effective work- around solutions.
And, if you are currently in a management position and are honest with yourself you will be able to identify ways in which you created work-arounds to get past the barriers of companies you worked in as you moved your way up the ladder.
So we have all done it.
With that being said let me give you a set of 8 principles which you can use as a manager’s guide to teach you how engage these networks in such a way that will help you gain access to these Informal Networks and the capabilities they possess.
These principles are called the Bigger Know Principles of Conscious Leadership. Based upon the premise that “You know what you know. I know what I know. And together we have a Bigger Know”. They take into account that there is a collective genius in every assembled working group that is exceeds the intelligence of any one individual. And that to the degree we can create a safe environment for people to share their ideas and knowledge will define the degree they will offer their “treasures”.
The following is a brief summary of each principle. If you would like to know more about the principles and the training program created for them click HERE to view an introductory video or fill in my contact form and I will get back to you shortly. However, what follows will get you started. Simply read the summary of each principle and attempt to employ the thinking when you have a group assembled.
The Bigger Know Principles of Conscious Leadership
Principle #1: There is a “Bigger Know”
The premise behind this first principle is that “You know what you know. I know what I know. And together we have a “Bigger Know”. The “Bigger Know” acknowledges the fact that there exists an active collective genius within every group.
This powerful resource resides within the people who are already on the payroll, however, in almost all organizations it remains largely untapped. Once understood, activated and released this collective genius has a significant impact on an organization’s performance on multiple bottom lines. It maximizes the investment already being made in personnel.
If you don’t agree with this first principle then stop here.
Principle #2: Domesticate the “Dog”.
The “Dog” is our EGO. A single over-activated ego can, and will, shut down access to the Bigger Know of an entire group.
While we cannot eliminate our egos, nor should we try, an unleashed ego, much like an untrained dog, can be undisciplined, temperamental or domineering. Because of the fact that access to the Bigger Know is determined by how open and safe people feel to contribute anything that shuts down people shuts down access to your groups’ Bigger Know. Therefore, it is crucial everyone in the group keep their “Dog” on a leash and helps others to do the same.
If you can’t get a handle on this principle almost all of your efforts to be granted access to the Informal Networks will either be denied or revoked later.
Principle #3 Ask & Invite Questions....then Listen
“Listening is the Language of Respect.” Second to “Domesticating the Dog” this is the most challenging principle to follow.
It is also the one that most activates the Bigger Know by engaging individuals and inviting their unique contributions and knowledge into the conversation. Then patient, honest and active listening allows those contributions to be mined as they appear and are put into play. Principle #3 provides the essential key that unlocks the door to the Bigger Know. It also serves to quiet and discipline the “Dog”.
Principle #4 Assess don’t “Judge”
People always know when they are being judged and it never makes them feel good about themselves, their contribution or the one who is doing the judging. So they recoil in response. However, when one’s input is assessed, respected and evaluated based upon its merits, people remain engaged and fuel the Bigger Know with their involvement. Assessing is done with intellect and in the spirit of collaboration whereas passing judgment is emotional and kills participation. By Assessing you insure the best ideas are thoroughly heard and can be vetted with reason and without prejudice.
Principle #5 Coach Don’t Criticize
Effective coaching is about advancing another person’s well being or their ideas whereas criticizing has the opposite effect.
When it becomes necessary to correct someone’s actions or to redirect an idea that person’s participation in the Bigger Know process is at risk. If handled properly through coaching and not criticizing this experience expands and strengthens the group’s Bigger Know by helping its members to both learn and grow. Besides, “criticizing” is the sound of the “Dog” barking.
Principle #6 Seek Alignment over Agreement
In order for a group to begin to move forward they must strongly align on a common purpose. When they alilgn next is to establish agreements that support that which they have aligned upon. In the event the group gets stuck on an issue, and the group is still firmly aligned on the greater objective, the group should seek to “agree to disagree” and allow whomever has been empowered in the area of concern to make the call. This principle is a reminder “to not let perfection become the enemy of good”. It also is a reminder to stay focused on the objective and not the minutiae.
Principle #7 Be Committed Yet Detached
When a group has committed to accomplishing that which it has aligned upon it must then be careful to avoid the tendency to become attached to how it will go about accomplishing their goal. Attachment brings with it a level of emotion, unnecessary restrictions and inflexibility. All of these are signs that a “Dog” may be loose. When feeling the surge of emotion
that accompanies attachment be quick to pause. Then assess inwardly what is going on. Ask yourself if what you are attached to is more important that what you are committed to. If the honest answer is “NO” then relax, trust and Detach.
Principle #8 There are No Failures; Only Lessons
Seeking to create the environment for your group’s Bigger Know to become activated and engaged is a challenging task.
While the Principles provide an understanding of “Bigger Know” they do not guarantee a 100% success rate. Each group and every circumstance is different. It is difficult to keep “Dogs on leashes” and create nurturing environments that maximize people’s participation. So the goal is to begin the process; learn about your self and others and do the best you can as you are learning to do even better.
Conclusion: If you can practice following these principles you will begin to be granted access to the inner workings of these fertile Informal Networks and will learn how to successfully interact with them.