The other day I was reading an article positing the idea that in order for teams to be successfully creative they must be adaptable and in turn, in order to be have adaptable teams, organizations must be flatter in their managerial structure. This led me to ask the question, what else must be true about the team itself for it to be able to function with a flatter organizational structure; one where the lines of authority and decision making are blurred or even dismantled?
It seems that teams in a flat managerial structure must possess one essential quality. The members must trust each other. They must be emotionally connected to one another. The ability to work with a less rigid management structure requires that the individuals on the team must trust and care for each other deeply.
In a top down organizations, individualism, while arguably less effective, is a possible mentality to sustain. The team can function as least with minimal productivity and possibly with great success. However, top down, individualistic organizations can’t compare to the potential greatness of flatter organizations where emotional connection and care for each other is valued as much as or maybe more than bottom line profit.
As community grows in an organization, adaptability grows; in turn creativity and innovation become more prominent and safer. As a result profits and success build, far outpacing growth in top down, individualistic organizations. For this to ever take place the people on the team must care for and trust each other. They must value the community above their own self.