When it comes to organization charts, it's important to keep in mind their limitations. While they can be useful for certain purposes such as salary reviews, they can also be detrimental to the health of a good organization.
Formalizing and circulating rigid diagrams can demoralize people by ranking them below others, even if they don't think of themselves as such. In a good company, everyone is equal and works together towards a common goal.
Instead of relying solely on organization charts, consider using a loose-leaf table of organization or a circular organization where leadership passes from one person to another depending on the task at hand. This approach values flexibility and recognizes the importance of informal relationships between people in an organization.
It's crucial to recognize and value these informal relationships, as they can have a significant impact on your effectiveness as a leader. Don't let yourself be conned into thinking that you only relate to people who are above, below, or beside you on the chart. Every person is a human being, not a rectangle.
As leaders, we must take the time to identify who is important to our effectiveness and treat them accordingly.
This may mean going out of our way to build relationships with people who may not seem immediately relevant or important. By doing so, we can cultivate a network of support and collaboration that extends far beyond the limitations of the organization chart.
In conclusion, while organization charts can provide a useful framework for understanding the formal structure of an organization, they should not be relied upon as the sole means of identifying important relationships and connections. Instead, we must recognize the value of informal links between people, and approach every individual with the respect and consideration they deserve. By doing so, we can build a culture of mutual respect and collaboration that is essential to our success as leaders.