Leading from the Middle

Caption: Shoeless, almost, in San Pedro, BZ.
No, this is not an appeal for an extreme kind of Casual Friday. Nor, anything like a Thong Thursday!
And, I am not calling for a “clothing optional” office!
Rather, while unwinding last week under the palms in a gentle tropical breeze, it came to me that Nudism is somewhat like talking about the democratic workplace. Many are curious, but there are few adherents. There are voyeurs and prurient observers, but there are relatively few practitioners. Social inhibitions apply, if not equally, to both. No one wants to be pantless in a pantsuit town.
So, while nudism and the DW have their appeal, it’s limited. But, their influence is considerable. Nudism influences fashion, moving us from head to toe beach coveralls to what Will Rogers said in the 1920s: “I never expected to see the day when girls would get sunburned in the places they do now.”
Likewise, I do believe the democratic workplace can help re-clothe, if you will, the hierarchy, a sort of “Sartor Resartus” for how we organize for work.
Speaking of Carlyle’s philosophical novel – which I presumably read in my Victorian Literature class at my alma mater, Lebanon Valley College - its premise, some say, comes from Jonathan Swift’s 1704 question:
“What is Man himself but a Micro-Coat, or rather a compleat Suit of Cloaths with all its Trimmings?” For Carlyle, civilization and its institutions – including the workplace – was shabbily clothed, frayed, and in need of retailoring, a makeover.
That makeover is achievable today through reflecting about the democratic workplace. Doing so need not be an anxiety dream. In the light of day we can consider and apply some or all of these elements to how we organize for work:
Many leaders.
De-centralized power.
Open “books” (finances and personnel).
Planning involves everyone.
Team-based, flat organization.
Many effective (independent and critical thinking and action-taking) followers.
Managers do “real work”.
No formal performance appraisal.
Workers help define individual perks, from parking to pay.
A proactive organization.
Hardly anarchy, these qualities can result in improved conditions both for the workplace and society.

@Copyright 2015 John Lubans

 

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