Hierarchy and self-organization

Podcast Feature: Exploring Group Dynamics with the ‘Gruppendynamik’ Team in Berlin

In this episode, we delve into the evolving tension between hierarchy and self-organization within modern organizations, a topic that continues to surface in group dynamics and leadership discourse. While many companies aspire to implement self-organizing teams, these efforts often stall when remnants of static hierarchy persist, creating ambiguity and resistance.

Hierarchy and authority are not just theoretical constructs; they shape real-world behavior, decision-making, and emotional climates within organizations. This conversation explores what happens when these dynamics unfold beyond the safety of educational or training settings, and how education itself can serve as a catalyst for dismantling fear and anxiety around flattening formal structures.

Joining us is Constantin von Mengersen, our President and a seasoned strategist, alongside his charismatic canine co-guest. Constantin shares insights into the cultural clash between subject matter experts (SMEs), who drive operational excellence, and formal authorities, who wield positional power.
This coexistence often breeds organizational anxiety: formal leaders may fear obsolescence, while SMEs worry about power being misused to obstruct progress.

We unpack how formal authority can suppress or sideline the competence authority of SMEs, especially during high-stakes decision-making.
The discussion also disentangles the nuanced differences between managers (often ill-equipped for the managerial function), leaders, individuals with Weisungsbefugnis (directive authority), and SMEs, each playing distinct yet interconnected roles.

This episode challenges conventional thinking and invites listeners to reimagine organizational structure, authority, and collaboration through the lens of group dynamics.