The Thinking Organization

This pyramid summarizes the Thinking Teams view of a successful organization, an organization effectively moving toward its goals, powered by collaborating teams of wholehearted individuals. The pyramid represents building from foundational elements; its layers show focus areas for organizational improvement and growth.             Starting from the base:  

Self-Aware, Productive Individuals – a wonderful alignment happens when an organization helps its members participate in a way that connects with and acknowledges their full selves, not just the conscious tip of the mind’s iceberg (The Committee in Your Head, The Power of Alignment) 

Open, Respectful Person-Person Communication – when teams learn to communicate, not from the deceptively efficient but narrow perspective of concrete positions, but from an expanded awareness of shared goals and the potential for mutual learning, each team member moves closer to full potential and contribution (Apples and Oranges, Another Iceberg) 

Focused, Agile, Managed Teams – when the natural tools of human cooperation are focused and enabled by agile structure, the team becomes greater than the sum of its members (Hive Mind, Bendable Concrete, Being Rational About Irrationality ) 

Thriving Enterprise Led With Vision – when leaders embrace the sometimes contradictory facets of their organization (Corrective Lenses), they can expand their options and tailor effective action by tending to all four aspects of their organization*, their organization as:

• “Factory” – creating structure that mutually supports individual and organization (Happy Cogs, Taking Chances ) 
• “Family” – Holding and fostering organizational values that transcend the daily To-Do list (The 26 Hour-a-Day Manager)
• “Arena” – creating a transparent, fair space to engage divergent interests and allocate scarce resources (Clean Politics)
• “Theater” – articulate the symbols that connect an organization’s mission to meaning and value for team members and stakeholders (Theater of Symbols)

–Tom

*Bolman, Lee G. and Deal, Terrance E.  Reframing Organizations – Artistry, Choice, and Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass A Wiley Imprint, 2003.