"Strategy 6
Minimize status differences and insist on courtesy and mutual respect."
Leading at the Edge p.86
As the author says, this chapter is closely
connected to the previous chapter, and the importance of that everyone equally gets sense
of being respected by one another is written. When everyone can feel that they
are respected equally and they can care and help each other, conflicts among
the team is less likely to happen, so they can cooperate to achieve the goal without anxiety.
"...it is possible to create an environment in which taking care of others becomes a normative behavior and - over time- these caring behaviors help forge emotional bonds." (p.93)
Minimizing status differences is one of the
key strategies to make it come true. By doing so, they can stop categorizing
people into "we" (=in-group) and "they (others)" (=out-group), and they can feel
that they are in the same team. Especially in the expedition, when the team unity was directly connected to life or death of the team members, I imagine it had very crucial role.
On the other hand, in our ordinary lives (which are far from a matter of life or death), having a rigid
stratification often makes team members perform better individually. It is because having hierarchy
makes people compete with each other in order to step up to the higher levels,
and consequently, it produces a better outcome.
The author argues that hierarchy itself is
not problematic, but it is important that everyone gets "a basic sense of
respect regardless of his or her role in the organization."(p.92) I agree with this opinion and I think it's an ideal form of an organization today.
Hi, Maya!
返信削除Thank you for sharing your opinion and nice summary of chaoter6.
It was interesting to see the quote about creating emotional bonds within a team by minimizing status helped Shackleton’s team to reinforce the unity. Despite the argument that a hierarchy works well in our ordinary life, I think it is effective for any group to take some moment not considering the social status, “Nominication” in Japsanese society as Ken mentioned in the class is a good example of having time that reinforce their unity by minimizing status. Also, as you pointed out, to maintain people’s basic sense to respect others regardless of status in a group is cornerstone of any group to get great unity.
Hi Maya,
返信削除As Moe has said, you have summarized very nicely, and chosen your quotations well. Good stuff.