Lattice over ladder

The lattice system — helping good ideas get to the top (or as I like to say to gatekeepers, "Hold my beer and watch this").

Imagine that you have the absolute best idea for your workplace. How do you pitch the idea to leadership? In a typical organization, a ladder-style hierarchy is often used. In this system, ideas need to go through gatekeepers before they can get to the top. The "gatekeepers" know exactly what makes a good idea vs. a bad idea... right?... right?!

The science says otherwise! (Put that on a coaster!). This week, I am jumping back into Adam Grant's Hidden Potential (1) to continue our discussion on collective intelligence, "a group's capacity to solve problems". I want to focus on the two systems used to promote or ignore collective intelligence.

The ladder system ignores collective intelligence. If an organization has a ladder system, with a direct report as a gatekeeper, good ideas can easily get squashed. In this system, there are many occurrences where managers feel that they will take on too much risk by putting forward an "unproven idea", which could limit their career growth. However, if they ignore a good idea, no one will likely know about it, so there's no real down side to their own personal career.

"The system is simple. But it's also stupid — it gives one individual far too much power to shut creativity down and shut people up. A single no is enough to kill an idea — or even stall a career" (1).

Gatekeepers are not all-knowing, all-wise beings. They are often not involved in the minute details of projects, are not as technically skilled as the employees they manage, and they are capable of blind spots, mistakes, and oversight (imagine that!). Unfortunately, we can all overlook hidden potential, so with a ladder system, some great ideas will sadly never see the light of day. How can we overcome this?

Cut to a lattice system! In a lattice system, there are multiple paths for ideas to reach leadership. So, if a manager does not see the value in your idea or thinks it is too risky, you have other members of leadership to pitch to for consideration. A lattice system creates multiple channels for ideas to flow through the organization, giving more room for good ideas to get to the top!

How does this promote collective intelligence? By implementing a lattice system over a ladder system, we are harnessing the power of many minds working together on a single mission. "The goal isn't to be the smartest person in the room; it's to make the entire room smarter" (1). Inspiration, game-changing ideas, and progress can come from unexpected places. Lattice systems aim to "amplify voice[s] and elevate the messenger" (1).

So, let's say that your company has embraced a lattice system and your idea has made it's way to the top (Wahoo!). Now what? Leadership needs to embrace your idea, otherwise you are faced with that all too familiar, "We really value your opinion. But this isn't the right time".

In my next post, I'll dive into how to foster strong leadership practices (I am open to suggestions for how to spice that term up...Super hero leadership? Visionary leadership? Dolly Parton-style leadership? ). But for now, since it is finally sunny in Vancouver, I have a park blanket and ice cream to attend to.

Until next time, dream big, love fiercely, laugh often, and sparkle.

References:

1. Grant, Adam. Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things. Viking, 2023.