Its Fathers Day and I report again. My family is run as a flat organization and it works. Perhaps your business should be flat also.

Last Fathers Day I commented in this blog about the three living generations that my family enjoys and I discussed some basic business principles that I have observed in play within the three generations, including leading by action, by demonstration not necessarily by words alone. My father set the tone for his sons, myself and my two brothers and we now live a mirror image following his work ethic and style, men respond better to action not words. His legacy passed down.

My brothers and myself are men who also independently perform and succeed rather then merely talk about it, such action is the singular hallmark of our father. We have businesses and managers, that are self responsible and self directed. A flat organization.

So as we all sat around the table today, I observed what an interesting and somewhat complex but clearly understood organizational format we have in our  flat family structure. It includes our various business activities.

We observed and learned what works and what does not work, and we evolved into a flat organization because it works best.

Here is how it looks.

The three brothers each run their own business and are responsible for creating income for their  family division. They answer to no one and make all their decisions themselves.

The wives run the household as well as produce income of their own, also without interference or leadership as this is a flat org.  Each manager of each division has independent authority and responsibility and conducts their business independently with little intervention or supervision.

Now the grandchildren, mostly young adults, each also conducting their lives as they see appropriate, be it in school,  professionally or conducting some project, search, mission or adventure. Making their own decisions and earning their way on their own.

That’s ten departments all run with flat management, each department run by the manager with little interference and outside control. There are ten profit centers, each family has four, one family has two, but all are run very flat.

We also enjoy a “Board of Directors” which supports decision making at each managers department.  Each manager runs his or her department independently. They also have the benefit of input and a place to bounce ideas off of and get the feedback and advice they need to make better decisions. This is also were they are held accountable for commitments and be cheered on to do better and achieve more.

Its a perfectly flat organization, any business would do well to observe and follow suit, no waste, very efficient, accomplishes a huge amount of productivity and still has an important support system with the older more experienced watching over the younger less experienced, offering guidance and direction, but each manager makes its decisions regarding its department. Flat

Of course my father is at the top, the “Chairman of the Board”, and myself and my brothers defer to him for advice and council while the grandchildren defer to their parents, myself and my brothers and of course the brothers have their wives as well for feedback and support. So while we are organized in a flat structure, we also provide all the guidance and support anyone needs.

It works.

Its a wonderful model and should be replicated in the business arena, flat works better then a structured pyramid.

If it did not work it would not evolve in such a manor, and if it works in the family structure it will work in the business arena.

Try it. Its lean, efficient, and it works well. Call for help 413-549-2966.