On Hierarchy in Society and Organizations; The God in You and the God in Me

The natural instinct

Human beings have the natural instinct of craving to be superior and being towards the top of the Hierarchy. And they have exhibited this historically. And in the modern day society and in organizations (which is a mini-society) we witness it regularly.

 

It can be the show of affluence by super-rich, show of power by political leaders and big fancy titles in organizations. Even exotic designer robes of religious leaders are means to the same hunger of showing one superior, different, and apart.

Indicator of authoritarian Hierarchy

Geert Hofstede, the influential Dutch researcher in the fields of organizational studies, created a framework for measuring it called the Power Distance Index (PDI).

The PDI index seeks to demonstrate the extent to which subordinates submit to authority. This index figure is lower in countries or organizations in which authority figures work closely with those not in authority, and is higher in countries or organizations with a more authoritarian hierarchy.  Refer the interactive world map.

So e.g.

• China and Saudi Arabia and most of Middle East are on higher side at 80 (Arab Spring will be justified because of this)
• US on the lower side at 40,
• Most of Europe at lower side, Germany and UK at 35, Switzerland at 34, Norway and Sweden at 31
• France (unlike most of Europe) is on the higher side at 68 (The socially accepted values of Grandeur and love for monarchy and power might be the reasons)

In Society vs. Organizations

This Hierarchy in large societies is difficult to be challenged, as its key drivers are money and power which rest with the ones at the top. Greed for more power and money brings corruption and those at the top of the Hierarchy get more powerful, increasing the social divide.  And although we don’t have many monarchies left, where this was the norm; even in democracies the once elected humble servants of public, get the lust of it.

In Organizations, being at the top is getting difficult

And coming to organizations this is posing a problem for our Hierarchy lovers who want to be at top eternally and command power.  It’s not easy to command respect and be at the top when you cannot perform and cannot prove by numbers.

In the current Economic scenario it’s not uncommon to see the CXO’s getting changed faster than season. And especially in modern organizations with white collar jobs, which is the “Knowledge Industry”, this is still more difficult.

Flat organizations are not really flat

There was this misnomer created called Flat Organizations few years back in the IT industry to boost productivity, but it was never really flat.

Well it cannot be flat as there are decisions which can be taken only at top, because they have the right skills, have access to confidential information, and it’s their mandate to steer the organization towards the goals.

So what are the key drivers which decide where on the level of Hierarchy you deserve to belong in an organization? Let’s try to list them…

They are the following and depending on your current level, you need a right mix of the below to reach a level above.

1. Awareness
2. Intention
3. Knowledge and Skills
4. Experience
5. Motivation , Passion and Drive
6. Leadership and People skills
7. Influence and Networking

If you have the above in the right mix, and you are ready to be aware and learn more, you will deserve being the God of your organization, with your subordinates happy under your leadership.

The God in You and the God in Me

There is no God outside us, God is in you and me. Like Buddha who was the "awakened one" or "the enlightened one".

The desire to seek knowledge and eventually all the knowledge is within us. We have to be aware of what we need, work towards it and discover it.

The self motivated heroes, who have followed their dreams and have worked hard, have exhibited perseverance and have eventually excelled.

Modern entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg are all at the top due to this. Their subordinates know that they deserve being at the top, and they are glad working under them.

And not just in Organizations even in Societies such heroes are respected. Take the example of non-entrepreneurs as well like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, and Aung San Suu Kyi.

So eventually it’s the level of God in You and the God in Me. This level of God in you and me will decide what you and I deserve. And if there is a mismatch, the natural forces will automatically push towards the change.
The good part is our destiny is in our hands, and we can change it, if we want…

Mahtab Syed

12 May 2012

Paris