Rethinking Hierarchy: Frederic Laloux’s Surprising Path to Self-Managing Teams [Guru Advice #007]

Advice from the World's Best Leadership and Management Thinkers

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Frederic Laloux, known for his work on “teal” organisations, challenges the typical top-down approach to leadership. In his research for Reinventing Organizations, he studied companies that thrived by handing employees more autonomy and responsibility. These “teal” operations break away from the standard hierarchy, aiming to let teams decide on their own structures, roles, and problem-solving tactics.

What sets these organisations apart is their emphasis on self-management. Instead of resting every decision on a manager’s desk, employees consult peers and share information freely. Laloux discovered that this style can scale, so long as people agree on clear principles—like open communication and shared accountability—that keep chaos at bay. The result often looks more like a living system than a rigid chart of boxes and arrows.