by lori | Feb 22, 2011 | Recognizing, Sustaining
I was sitting on a ferry last week with my friend D—coming back from our self-organizing group’s meeting—and we got to talking about what makes groups like ours last. She’s part of another group that she really wants to make work. So am I. She’s worried that her other... by lori | Feb 1, 2011 | Fostering, Recognizing
Self-organizing work groups value collective spontaneity over individual ideas and planning (or at least both to a similar extent). For me, there’s just no other way of working that’s as interesting, rewarding, fun, and impactful. The tradeoff, though, is that I can’t... by lori | Jan 7, 2011 | Definition, Leadership, Recognizing
If you’re familiar with this subject, let me know what it means for you. Today, for me, a self-organizing group is a collective whose members are surprised and delighted by what they become and do together. These collectives create themselves and contain members who... by lori | Dec 1, 2010 | FAQ, Recognizing
In the 25 groups I’ve studied and been part of so far, here are the reasons mentioned for group formation. To: Change the way the organization plans and designs its products (working across silo’d product teams instead of within silos) Help all of our kids... by lori | Oct 21, 2010 | FAQ, Fostering, Impacts, Impacts, Learning, Recognizing
Three years ago when I was asked this question for the first time, off the top of my head I said something like “That with the right group of people, I can do anything.” Luckily for me, because I’m a researcher, that impromptu comment was recorded. I... by lori | Sep 30, 2010 | FAQ, Leadership, Learning, Letting Go, Letting Go, Recognizing, Recognizing
An interviewer asked me this question last year—you can still find my response on the Web if you look for it. I’m still fairly satisfied with what I said to him, with one glaring exception. In my three-paragraph answer (good Lord, will I ever be able to say anything...