Self-management: How it does work

In a self-managing organization, the team members are collectively responsible for the team result. Team decisions are made by consensus, with each team member also taking individual responsibility for the agreements made. This makes a world of diff erence to the everyday functioning of the organization.More and more directors are becoming aware of the advantages of selforganization, but the thought of making changes to the organizationalstructure seems so daunting that they don't know where to start. This practical guide explains how to make the transition from hierarchy to self-management. We discuss the implications for team members, team coaches, managers and supporting staff , as well as the skills they need in order to carry out their work eff ectively as part of a self-organization. We also give concrete tools to aid in eff ective communication, such as the Solution Driven Method of Interaction, solution-oriented meetings, and approaches for handling conflict.Astrid Vermeer and Ben Wenting are the founders of the Instituut voor Samenwerkingsvraagstukken and have extensive experience in facilitating the introduction of self-management in organizations.