Why leaders should learn to value the boundary spanners
Entrepreneurial talent who work with other teams often run into trouble with their managers. Here are ways to get the most out of your âboundary spannersâ...
Brain Circuits
The top 4 advantages of a matrix organizationÂ
As businesses navigate increasingly complex challenges, the matrix organizational structure has emerged as the best available solution for four primary reasons.
Setting up and running a matrix organization requires a deep understanding of both its advantages and challenges. Hereâs a rundown of what I see as the top four advantages:Â Â
Efficient resource utilization
With a matrix structure, resources can be deployed flexibly across the organization based on business needs. Functional experts can be assigned to work on the highest priority initiatives, regardless of where they reside in the organization. This can reduce redundancy and maximize productivity. When specialized skills and knowledge are shared efficiently across business units and projects, synergies, and savings that are difficult to realize within traditional organizational structures can be achieved.
Opportunities for employee development
Working on diverse assignments exposes employees to different parts of the organization and helps them develop a broader skill set and more versatility. It also helps them understand the bigger picture and how their work contributes to corporate goals.
Speak up to introduce others to your competence
In a first meeting, speaking up and taking initiative are seen as âcompetence cues,â signaling leadership potential, since those behaviors are associated with proactivity. The cues can include speaking up to make a point, summarizing data, or just asking a question that stimulates conversation. Being proactive at the beginning of a groupâs life is essential since status is ascribed early and group members who initially achieve high status are likely to retain it. Remember this next time you are tempted to keep quiet during a meeting.
Flexibility and adaptability
Quick responses to changes in the business environment â including emerging customer requirements and market demands â are enabled through the rapid formation and dissolution of teams. Adapting to project needs is crucial in today's fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape, where organizations must be able to pivot quickly to remain competitive.
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Further reading:Â
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanÂ
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Why leaders should learn to value the boundary spanners
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When we feel stressed, weâre more likely to operate from a place of fear and fall back on a mindset that is fixed, judgmental, and focused on polarities â behaviour that soon...
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