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Up the Organization Book Summary preview
Up the Organization - Book Cover Chapter preview
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Synopsis

The sub-title of this book sums it up pretty well: How to stop the corporation from stifling people and strangling profits. The ideas here are irreverent, humorous, and most of all, relevant. Creativity. Initiative. Boldness. These are the qualities that most professionals wish their employees and peers possessed. But too often, these same professionals never realize that it is the company or organization itself that stifles these important qualities.

Questions and answers

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The ideas in 'Up the Organization' have significant potential to be implemented in real-world scenarios to foster creativity and initiative. The book emphasizes the importance of creativity, initiative, and boldness in the workplace, and criticizes corporations that stifle these qualities. By implementing the book's ideas, companies can encourage these qualities in their employees, leading to increased innovation and productivity. However, the success of these ideas in the real world would depend on the specific context and the willingness of the organization to embrace change and challenge traditional corporate structures.

A manufacturing company can apply the innovative approaches discussed in 'Up the Organization' by fostering an environment that encourages creativity, initiative, and boldness. This can be achieved by reducing bureaucratic hurdles, promoting open communication, and rewarding innovative ideas. The company can also implement strategies to prevent the stifling of these qualities, such as providing employees with the freedom to express their ideas without fear of retribution. Additionally, the company can focus on creating a culture that values and rewards innovation and creativity, thereby boosting employee morale and increasing profits.

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Up the Organization challenges readers to humanize the business by bringing out the best in the people they work with by getting out of their way.

Summary

"Most people in big companies today are administered, not led. They are treated as personnel, not people."

As long as companies treat employees as commodities instead of assets, progressive thinking and creativity will never happen. For employees to feel like they have a purpose, they need a leader who cares. For employees to feel like their contributions are appreciated, they need a leader who is involved and gives feedback. What employees DON'T need is administrators that simply police and regulate.

Questions and answers

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The concept of treating employees as assets rather than commodities is about recognizing the unique value and potential of each individual in an organization. Unlike commodities, which are interchangeable, assets have distinct qualities that can be nurtured and developed for the benefit of the organization. This approach encourages progressive thinking and creativity, as employees feel valued and appreciated. They are more likely to feel a sense of purpose and contribute their best efforts when they are treated as assets. This involves leaders who are caring, involved, and provide constructive feedback, rather than simply policing and regulating.

The lessons from "Up the Organization" can be applied in today's business environment by treating employees as assets rather than commodities. This involves fostering a culture of creativity, initiative, and boldness. Leaders should show care for their employees, be involved in their work, and provide constructive feedback. This approach discourages the stifling of people and strangling of profits by promoting progressive thinking and creativity. It also discourages the practice of simply policing and regulating employees, which can be detrimental to a company's growth and profitability.

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"If people are coming to work excited. . . if they're making mistakes freely and fearlessly. . . if they're having fun. . . if they're concentrating on doing things rather than preparing reports and going to meetings-then somewhere you have leaders."

Too often, leaders and managers are so afraid to let go of the reigns, even for a moment. They seem to think that controlling people is the same as controlling the business, but it's simply not true. Only when a manager can create an atmosphere of creativity without judgment will employees find enthusiasm in their work. Employees want to work, and they want to contribute. They don't want their manager holding their hand or standing over their shoulder. Sometimes the best thing a leader can do is to just get out of the way.

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A startup can use the key topics or framework covered in "Up the Organization" to grow by fostering an environment that encourages creativity, initiative, and boldness. This can be achieved by letting go of the reins and allowing employees to contribute without feeling overly controlled or judged. This approach can lead to increased enthusiasm and productivity among employees, ultimately contributing to the growth of the startup.

The theories presented in "Up the Organization" challenge the traditional corporate management practices by advocating for a more hands-off approach. The book suggests that managers often stifle creativity and initiative by trying to control their employees too closely. Instead, it proposes that managers should create an environment where employees feel free to express their ideas without fear of judgment. This approach challenges the existing paradigm of top-down management and promotes a culture of innovation and enthusiasm among employees.

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"Managers must have the discipline not to keep pulling up the flowers to see if their roots are healthy."

If an employee is performing their job well, why go digging? Some managers feel like they have to have to have their hands in everything, even when everything is going well. In the end, an employee's behaviors and results are all that really matters. Why someone does what they do, what they are thinking when they do it, and other underlying factors just aren't important when the results are there.

Questions and answers

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In 'Up the Organization', the concept of employee performance is centered around the idea that results are what truly matter. It suggests that managers should not overly concern themselves with the underlying factors of an employee's actions, such as their thought processes or motivations, as long as the results are satisfactory. The book advocates for a hands-off approach where managers do not interfere unnecessarily in an employee's work, especially when they are performing well. This approach encourages creativity, initiative, and boldness in employees, which can lead to increased productivity and profitability for the organization.

The ideas from "Up the Organization" can be implemented in real-world scenarios by encouraging creativity, initiative, and boldness in the workplace. Managers should focus on the results produced by their employees rather than micromanaging their every move. This can lead to a more productive and profitable organization.

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If it isn't broken, don't try to fix it.

Top management is supposed to be a tree full of owls-hooting when management heads into the wrong part of the forest. I'm still unpersuaded they even know where the forest is."

Real leaders have to be involved, and they have to understand what their employees deal with on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, the higher the level of management or leadership, the more out of touch leaders seem to be. If employees don't have a connection with senior leaders and their vision, how can they be expected to connect with the vision of the company?

Questions and answers

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The lessons from "Up the Organization" can be applied in today's business environment by encouraging leaders to be more involved and understand what their employees deal with on a daily basis. This can be achieved by promoting open communication, fostering a culture of trust and respect, and providing opportunities for employees to share their ideas and feedback. Leaders should also demonstrate their commitment to the company's vision and values, and ensure that these are clearly communicated and understood by all employees. This will help to enhance the connection between leaders and employees, and ultimately lead to a more engaged and motivated workforce.

Up the Organization" emphasizes the importance of leaders being involved and understanding their employees' daily experiences. The book suggests that disconnected leaders can lead to a disengaged workforce, as employees may struggle to connect with the company's vision if they don't feel a connection with senior leaders. This implies that effective leadership and employee engagement are closely linked, with the former being a key driver of the latter. Leaders should therefore strive to be more involved and in touch with their employees, as this can foster a stronger connection with the company's vision and ultimately boost engagement and productivity.

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