ABSTRACT
Back in the ’80s, people in organisations used to argue over whether they were managers or leaders. Mainstream leadership development focuses on techniques by which power can manipulate people to serve its own ends. Self-organisation is at odds with the conventional concept of leadership. Self-organisation is best experienced directly through work, although many people need to play together to get the flavour of it. Bottom up initiative cannot be driven top down! Self-organisation cannot be organised. At the heart of self-organisation is the idea of creativity, which is encouraged by rich communication and interaction. Although it is in some ways democratic, self-organisation is much more, because it does not depend on hierarchical structures or mechanisms of democracy in order for people to work together to bring their ideas into reality. This chapter explores the dynamics of self-organisation and teamwork, including the roles that need to be played for people to bond effectively.
