Upside Down Org Chart: Better Way to Support Employees?

That’s what Aaron Swartz discusses in a new essay on his blog, Raw Thought:

A better way to think of a manager is as a servant, like an editor or a personal assistant. Everyone wants to be effective; a manager’s job is to do everything they can to make that happen. The ideal manager is someone everyone would want to have.

This sounds good, but how would one make it happen?

Instead of the standard “org chart” with a CEO at the top and employees growing down like roots, turn the whole thing upside down. Employees are at the top — they’re the ones who actually get stuff done — and managers are underneath them, helping them to be more effective. (The CEO, who really does nothing, is of course at the bottom.)

The notion of employees needing to be “managed” is outdated. Often, when employees aren’t doing their best work, it’s because the environment isn’t designed to help them. To do their best work, employees need flexibility, support, access to resources, and the ability to move as quickly as possible without being restricted by unnecessary bureaucracy.

This can make managers’ jobs more focused. Take away the notion that they’re supposed to be busy “managing” people, and managers can focus their energy on simplifying processes and getting resources their employees need. Without “managing” their employees, they’ll still know exactly what they’re employees are doing as those employees communicate what they need to get their projects done.

Via Kottke.org. Org Chart image ©2009 Sticking it to The Man.