Up the Organization! -- One More Time

One of the things that I like about common sense is that it tends to be timeless.  In 1970, Robert Townsend published a book called Up the Organization: How to Stop the Corporation from Stifling People and Strangling Profits.  It became an instant classic – mostly because of the common sense advice Mr. Townsend dispensed. 

In his introduction, Mr. Townsend said:

• (This book) “is for those who have the courage, the humor and the energy to make a non-monster company, or a non-monster piece of a monster company, operate as if people are human.  All you need is a talent for spotting the idiocies now built into the system.”

In other words, use your common sense.  Don’t be run over by the bureaucracy that seems to have a stranglehold on all big companies – and many small ones too for that matter.

Jossey Bass has issued a Commemorative Edition of Up the Organization.  It has a foreword by Warren Bennis, a very well known authority on management and leaderhsip; and introductory essays from Jim O’Toole, professor at Southern Cal; Bob Davids, former CEO of Radica Games and Robert Gottlieb, former Editor in chief at Alfred A. Knopf.

The main part of the book however, is a reprint of the original Up the Organization and the paperback release one year later.  The book is organized by topic in alphabetical order.  It begins with “Advertising” and ends with “Wearing Our Your Welcome”.  In between, there are chapters entitled “Big Wheels in Little Companies”; “Budgets”; “Conflict Within the Organization”; “Ejaculation, Premature”; “Excuses”; “Hubris, the Sin Of”; “Job Descriptions – Straight Jackets”; “Meetings”; “No-No’s”; “Racism”; “Thanks”; “Training”.

As you can see, Mr. Towsend wasn’t afraid to be a little controversial – and he has a sense of humor.  I first read this book as a student.  It was around 1975.  I loved it then, and still have my original copy.  Most of the advice today is as relevant in 2007 as it was 35 years ago.  Some of it is a little dated – like the chapter entitled “President’s Salary -- (Is He Really Worth $250,000?)  Recent business page articles about CEO salaries these days show how things has changed – ‘nuf said about that…

The Appendix: Rate Your Boss As A Leader makes some great common sense leadership points that are still appropriate today.

Here it is…

“Score each characteristic from 0 to 10

My boss is:

1. Available.  If I have a problem I can’t solve, he is there.  But he is forceful in making me do my level best to bring in solutions, not problems.
2. Inclusive.  Quick to let me in on information or people who might be useful to me or stimulating or of long term professional interest.
3. Humorous.  Has a full measure of the comic spirit in his makeup.  Laughs even harder when the joke’s on him.
4. Fair.  And concerned about me and how I’m doing.  Gives credit where credit is due, but holds me to my promises.
5. Decisive.  Determined to get at those little unimportant decisions which can tie up an organization for days.
6. Humble.  Admits his own mistakes openly – learns form them and expects his people to do the same.
7. Objective.  Knows the difference between the apparently important from the truly important and goes where he is needed.
8. Tough.  Won’t let senior management or important outsiders waste his or his people’s time.  Is more jealous of his people’s time than he is of his own.
9. Effective.  Teaches me to bring him my mistakes with what I’ve learned, and done about them.  Teaches me not to interrupt him with possible good news on which no action is required.
10. Patient.  Knows when to bite the bullet until I solve my own problem.

Total up your score for each item.  This is your boss’s rating as a leader on a scale of 0 to 100.  If it’s below 50, look for another job.”

The ten items Mr. Townsend identified in 1970 – Availability, Inclusiveness, Humor, Fairness, Decisiveness, Humility, Objectivity, Toughness, Effectiveness, Patience -- are a very good set of leadership characteristics in 2007.  And they should be – they’re just common sense!

If you’re a leader or a small business owner – or plan on becoming one, I suggest that you pick up a copy of the Commemorative Edition of Up the Organization.  If you read it, and use the common sense advice inside, you’ll become a better leader.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for reading.  Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense.  Check out my other blog: www.SuccessCommonSense.com for common sense advice on becoming the career and life success you are meant to be.

I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Bud

PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open.  Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.