Scaling a team or organisation is no small feat. For leaders, especially those new to the role or managing rapid growth, the challenges can feel overwhelming. Mat Hayes, a seasoned human architect and professional coach, has walked this path and shares transformative insights on problem-solving leadership and fostering self-organising teams.
“Leadership is about creating an environment where everyone can contribute to solving the problem at hand.” – Esther Derby
The concept of self-organising teams might sound idealistic, but in today’s dynamic workplace, it’s a critical component of effective leadership. These teams don’t rely on directives from outside; instead, they possess the skills, trust, and feedback mechanisms necessary to handle their work autonomously.
However, transitioning to this model requires leaders to redefine their roles. Hayes emphasises: "When a team becomes self-organising, the role of a leader or manager changes. The interventions they need differ, and finding the right balance is crucial."
To navigate the complexities of leading self-organising teams, Hayes introduces Jerry Weinberg’s MOI model, a powerful framework that identifies the key ingredients for a successful team:
Leaders must master the art of observing these dynamics within their teams to intervene effectively.
Want to explore the full dynamics of self-organising teams? Watch the full masterclass for deeper insights.
Leadership isn’t about micromanaging—it’s about thoughtful observation and timely intervention. Hayes highlights the importance of balancing interventions across the MOI spectrum. This involves understanding when to:
Hayes’s personal journey illustrates how over-reliance on one intervention type can hinder scalability: "I was constantly organising everything. No wonder I couldn’t scale myself. Realising this allowed me to step back and empower my teams to truly self-organise."
Learn how to balance leadership interventions effectively. Watch the full masterclass now.
Transitioning to self-organising teams isn’t without challenges. Teams often lack the experience, safety to fail, or clear direction needed to succeed. Leaders may also struggle to let go of control, fearing mistakes or missteps.
Hayes addresses these issues head-on, offering practical strategies to overcome them, including fostering psychological safety and redefining leadership styles to align with the team’s evolving needs.
The shift to self-organising teams transforms not just teams but leaders themselves. As Hayes succinctly puts it: "Mr. Universe doesn’t have more muscles than I do, just better-developed ones."
The same principle applies to leadership—it’s about developing the right “muscles” to empower and inspire.
To implement these principles in your organisation:
In our masterclass, Mat Hayes dives deeper into:
👉 Don’t miss this opportunity to future-proof your leadership approach and gain actionable insights. Watch the full masterclass now.
Join us as we explore how modern leadership principles can empower teams, drive scalability, and create lasting impact.
This blog is inspired by insights shared by Mat Hayes, human architect and professional coach, during his masterclass with The CIO Circle.
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