Over the last few decades, the growth of business intelligence (BI) has enabled companies to streamline many processes and expand into new markets on an unprecedented scale. In addition, new BI technologies are enabling mass collaboration and innovation.
However, the implementation of these BI solutions often gives rise to new challenges. There are five essential competencies that must be mastered to improve an organization's ability to leverage the new opportunities in a volatile global economy. These competencies are communication, collaboration, innovation, adaptability, and leadership.
One of the most challenging aspects of leading in the new world model is giving up the need for control. And yet, with the complexity of business today, it is impossible to micromanage from the top. Not only is it less effective to operate with a top-down leadership style, but it diminishes so much of the energy, wisdom, and vitality of the organization. In the article, "The Paradox of Empowerment," Wayne Baker states that "empowerment means letting go while taking control. Often this requires leaders to transform the work environment by actively changing "the way people work, relate, think and feel." However, they must also allow time for the new empowerment to "take root, grow and thrive."
"Like any paradox, the paradox of empowerment is full of traps. It ensnares CEOs who cannot accept or live in the contradiction of taking control and letting go. Such CEOs become abdicators or meddlers. Those who thrive in the paradox become coaches who learn how to cultivate true empowerment."
Meddlers never really give up control. They say they want self-managed teams, but they often stay too involved and tend to micromanage. This results in team members delegating upward and abdicating responsibility. "Coaches [, however] know the difference between intervention and interference."
Empowering CEOs are experts at tapping into the natural desire of people to work in fulfilling and productive jobs. They know that people are motivated by many things besides money, such as "belonging, mastery, self-esteem, achievement, respect." Meddlers, who generally distrust human nature, feel their employees must be coerced into doing their jobs.
Empowering CEOs create an environment of collaboration and self-direction. They create effective social mechanisms, such as high-level networks that unite and build community.
