OST Kitchen

A constant train of thought which runs through my mind (sometimes at 3:30 am unfortunately)… What does it mean to be a leader?  More specifically, what does it mean to be a leader at OST? How do we provide effective leadership to a group of highly motivated, self-directed, super-smart people?  How do we infuse the idea of accountability and ownership throughout the organization while not being seen as directive and authoritarian?  How do we provide the support and care required while still making sure we have the framework and processes needed to delight our clients and scale appropriately for growth? 

I have seen and experienced many different models of leadership during my career.  Most frequently the model has been very hierarchical and authoritarian.  When the boss yells jump the response is to jump first, then ask how high and jump again.  (As an aside, I hate it when I am referred to as someone’s “boss”… it provides an immediate and negative visceral reaction in my gut…)

No organization that I have been a part of was better at this than the United States Army.  The US Army has the most top down, hierarchical and directive structure imaginable.  In fact, the first thing you have to do when you join that organization is spend eight weeks in basic training learning how to say “yes” and take action as directed without hesitation.  (They pretend that they are teaching you how to shoot a weapon and throw a hand grenade, but the fact of the matter is that what they are really teaching you is to do what you are told, when you are told and in the manner in which you were taught… there is no room for debate on the battlefield!)

The directive and authoritarian model is one which works well for the military… but does it translate well into the business world?  I would argue that in some cases it does, in modified form.  The larger the organization, the more difficult it becomes to manage without directive leadership.  A huge, multi-national such as General Motors or General Electric (see… they even sound like militaristic) would be very difficult to lead without being very structured and hierarchical.

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