#16 Conclusion: Embrace your Organisation with Humility

Do you sometimes have the feeling that you are already doing quite a bit right and yet things are not going as you would like them to? – Probably you are right, and maybe you still have something to learn.

Don’t overestimate your power. I meet board members and CEOs who are perplexed when everything does not develop as quickly as they would like it to. A lot of people are also of the opinion that they don’t achieve as much as they believe their role should.

Even as the CEO, you will never be stronger than your organisation. If you have already tried making change through power, you will have noticed that large organisations are not easy to move. Be realistic with your expectations.

An organisation can never be completely controlled. It is too complex and too strong for that. And as an individual (even as a management team) you cannot fight against this complexity and strength. You need to use the strength of the waves. It is like the sea. When you understand how the sea works, only then can you sail well. There will always be uncertainty. Organisational transformation has its own logic, understand it and you will be successful.

These articles point to the important role you have as a manager in the development of your organisation.

Go to the people. Live with them. Learn from them. Love them.

Start with what they know. Build with what they have. But with the best leaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people say, we have done this ourselves.

Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher, 6th century BC

This recommendation is still valid today. Lao Tzu talks about the art of successfully bringing an organisation to where you want it to be, without applying force.

Rely on your wisdom and allow for the resonance between you, your team and the people in your organisation. 

Enjoy what your organisation has to teach you!

You find more advice in my Corporate Coaching!