The notion that power structures are pyramid-shaped by nature is as deeply ingrained as the fairy tales we're told in our youth and the corporate ladders we set out to climb as professionals. But is it time to explore alternative models?

Let's talk about pyramid schemes. No, not the notorious business ruses where paying recruits try to turn profits by exacting fees from rubes they bring on. We're talking instead about all the hierarchies – from sports teams to companies, orchestras, governments, faith communities, and even grassroots groups like neighborhood watch committees - that just seem naturally to take on that familiar pyramidal aspect: a commander at the top, flanked by a handful of lieutenants, and supported by a greater number of soldiers below.

There's an irresistible logic to this structure, of course. Yet it's useful to consider alternative structures, especially now, where the promise of benevolent leadership in our federal government has proven tenuous while the threat of authoritarian overreach grows daily.

In the wake of COVID-19, what we're discovering is that when people at the lower echelons of corporate entities suffer, the people at the top suffer too. If people at the bottom can't go to work due to quarantine, isolation, or sickness, the value that they create no longer accrues for those at the top.

Rethinking the Balance of Authority and Value
So what alternative structures are there? Dr. Teri talks about peer networks of "pods," or teams organized to provide a focused service or produce a specific component. The gig economy continues to evolve, certain implementations of which empower workers to manage their own time and resources, and even set their own rates.

You Don't Need to Throw Out the System to Reform It
Granted, some processes likely lend themselves to pyramidal organizations. Others, which may benefit from a different organizational approach, might need to change gradually.

Our role as self-actualized leaders is to constantly reflect on what we can do to improve these structures, these processes, and the products and services they deliver. What can we do to ensure that people across the organization are treated fairly, with dignity, and in a way that aligns with the true value they provide?

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[Photo credit: "Piramid," artist unknown. Used under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication.]

Education: Self-Improvement
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