Home > Decentralized Command: Building Leaders In Your Organization
As a Co-founder of a startup my day is always eventful. The individual successes, using skills and capabilities throughout my career got me to where I am today. As I reflect deeper, I understand I’d be nowhere with out the people I worked with, learned from, and battled with along the way. To have continued success I would need to not only build on my own shortcomings but also facilitate an ecosystem that will allow my employees to become the best version of themselves. Two books that have helped me through my journey are “Extreme Ownership” and “Leadership Strategy and Tactics” by Jocko Willink. Both books are great reads and both books put a major emphasis on Decentralized Command.
Decentralized Command is a concept where everyone leads. It is critical for success on the battlefield, in business, and in life. Leaders at all levels understand the overall mission (the commander’s intent) and are empowered to make decisions in key tasks necessary to accomplish that mission in the most effective and efficient manner possible. To break this down even more I have listed 14 concepts that we can apply to our everyday life as guardrails to stay on course. Below are best practices that will allow your team to flourish. As the it allows on-the-job-training to become leadership education for you and your team.
- Clear Vision and Goals: Clearly communicate the overall vision and goals of the organization. Ensure that every team member understands how their work contributes to the larger objectives.
- Empowerment: Delegate authority and decision-making power to team members based on their expertise and capabilities. Encourage team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions independently.
- Communication and Transparency: Foster open communication within the team. Provide regular updates on the organization’s progress, challenges, and changes in direction.
- Skill Development: Invest in training and development to enhance the skills of team members. Ensure that each team member has the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their tasks independently.
- Trust and Accountability: Build trust among team members by setting clear expectations. Hold team members accountable for their work and decisions.
- Collaboration: Encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the team. Facilitate a culture where team members can seek help and input from their peers.
- Decentralized Decision-Making: Distribute decision-making authority based on expertise and proximity to the problem. Implement a decision-making framework that allows for autonomy while aligning with overall goals.
- Flexible Work Environment: Allow flexibility in work arrangements, such as remote work or flexible hours, to accommodate individual preferences and needs.
- Feedback Mechanism: Establish a feedback loop for continuous improvement. Encourage team members to provide feedback on processes and suggest improvements.
- Technology and Tools: Implement collaboration tools and technologies that facilitate communication and project management. Ensure that your team is equipped with the necessary tools to work independently.
- Recognition and Rewards: Acknowledge and celebrate individual and team achievements. Implement a reward system that recognizes contributions and encourages initiative.
- Cross-Functional Teams: Form cross-functional teams to encourage diverse perspectives and skills. Rotate team members through different roles to broaden their understanding of the organization.
- Adaptability: Foster a culture of adaptability and resilience to navigate changes effectively. Encourage experimentation and learning from failures.
- Shared Leadership: Promote the concept of shared leadership, where team members can step up and lead initiatives when their expertise aligns with the task at hand.
Remember that implementing a decentralized command structure requires a gradual and thoughtful approach. Regularly assess the effectiveness of your strategies and be open to adjustments based on feedback and evolving organizational needs.
Mike DePaulo, LSSBB, CDR,
All Pro Recruiting (APR)
