We seem to live in divergent times…
On the one hand, corporate organisations are becoming more procedural, more numbers-driven, more top-down in their approach. (That’s a generalisation of course, and perhaps not even an accurate one, and there are certainly notable exceptions.)
At the same time, as individuals, we seem to be becoming ever more aware of the need to be more human, more connected, and more mindful of our interdependence.
It seems a rather obvious dichotomy.
And yet…
Many of the large organisations are doing what they do on our behalf, one way or another. (For example, even the head of the Church of England finds to his annoyance that his organisation has an indirect interest in a financial operation he has just come out against.)
Organisational leaders, despite their own personal humanity, seem rather powerless to change the rules.
The holding of formal authority can sometimes be a constraint rather than an opportunity.
What do you think? Are our organisations increasingly divergent from us as human beings? If so, what’s the answer? What is the evolution we need and from where will it be led?
What is the key to balancing organisational effectiveness and efficiency with common humanity?
Or perhaps you think the premise is mistaken and our organisations are doing everything we need them to do.