Semco Style Institute South Africa

19/03/2020

09/03/2020

from the .co.za - what an & to all the - more to follow in our ... @ Skilpadvlei Wine Farm

27/02/2020

MYTH 10: IT TAKES TOO LONG

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, people tend to go for fast results. Whether it is because people feel pressured by the market, shareholders or a superior, the quick solution often seems the most attractive. Do not confuse the adrenalin rush of fast decisionmaking with the conviction that you are taking decisive action.

Take the hiring process, for instance. Opting to hire someone as fast as you can, might feel as if you have solved your problem, but chances of finding that right person in that time are very small. Instead, it is far better to stop and think before you start the hiring process. Find out what type of person you really need and let candidates come in for more interviews and meetings; let both parties enter the reality of the workspace with an open mind and unbiased. And then make decisions.

Take the time to stop and consider your options instead of rushing in. Long-term timesaving decisions are better than short-term stop-gaps. How will you balance strategy versus speed?

25/02/2020

MYTH 9: IT ONLY WORKS IF YOU CHANGE EVERYTHING

‘I CAN’T USE ANY PLUG-AND-PLAY PRACTICES AND SOLUTIONS’

There is a very persistent myth that implementing democratic management is an all-ornothing approach. But the fact is, there are plenty of elements that can be implemented at a time and pace of your own choosing.

Start by creating freedom in a certain field and setting up an evaluation cycle over six months, and use that information to see what works for your organization. When you feel satisfied with the results, you can add more elements to the field in the same fashion without any need to rebuild your company from the ground up.

Change is not something that happens overnight, and it only happens when you make a start somewhere.

Why don’t you start today?

21/02/2020

MYTH 8: IT IS TOO RISKY

A common myth heard from people working in highly regulated environments – like banks or huge institutions – is that this way of working is impossible due to compliance risks. They argue that democratic management would open them up to unacceptable liability. What they actually mean by that is that they believe there is only one way to comply with all the rules and regulations: by following the specific rules in a specific order.

Instead, we have seen over the past thirty years that if you clearly explain the constraints of ethics and legislation and discuss the underlying intent, people are very capable of working within that framework, just like they are very capable of handling the constraints of everyday life. When these compliance issues are put out there, tell them not just what to do, but why, and they’ll do it. Do not let yourself be blinded by a single perspective on these matters; work within the framework and act on its intent.

Trust your employees’ judgment and sense of responsibility; their professionalism was why you hired them in the first place. Are you ready to take compliance and control to the next level?

19/02/2020

MYTH 7: IT WASTES A LOT OF TIME

Today’s businesses require serious maneuverability and the ability to make fast decisions. In order to comply with these criteria, many companies have adopted LEAN, Scrum and Agile processes and ways of working. There is a persistent myth that democratic management will not be able to keep up with these processes.

But the fact is that democratic management requires no rules or regulations, removing the constraints normal companies have to deal with. That means this way of working is as fast as using those other processes – or even faster. When the company structure is set up to encourage people to do what they believe in, facilitating collaboration and joint purpose, there is nothing holding them back.

Democratic management is as lean and agile as it gets, unleashing your company’s full potential. Are you up for removing the constraints?

18/02/2020

It is just 3 weeks to go before The Experience Game. If you have not booked your spot yet, do not delay any further. Experience the journey from hierarchy to self-management in just one day.

Watch the video to know what you can expect - http://bit.ly/semcogame

Contact [email protected] for more information

17/02/2020

MYTH 6: IT’S TOO EXPENSIVE

This myth is based on the fear that people will start asking for more money than they would anywhere else. The concern is
that these higher salaries would make the company, business or product too expensive, and therefore unsustainable. However, what we have seen over the past 30 years is that when we give people accurate information about the context of their salaries and cost structure of the company, it’s easy for them to see what the right salary would be.

This approach actually makes people aware, and with that awareness comes ownership of the costs. Paired with profit participation schemes, people are prone to take action related to cost and time reduction. We rarely see that attitude at other companies, because people do not feel a sense of ownership.

People who set their own salaries and only keep the people they really need will create a more effective environment. In essence, you end up with a much more productive structure, which makes an enormous difference in terms of profitability. When will you give back ownership to your employees?

Watch the video - http://bit.ly/ssisa-myth6

13/02/2020

MYTH 5: IT’S NOT SUSTAINABLE

Sometimes people say that democratic management doesn’t seem like a sustainable solution. Now you have to take into perspective that we have been doing this for more than 30 years, so it seems redundant to even address the question of sustainability.

However, just imagine people who work in a place where they really want to work, who have control over what they do and how they do it. A place where they can dress however they want to and are paid what they want. Why would people want to exchange that for
working under an authoritarian regime, returning to the old nine-to-five job?

This approach will also influence the products people are working on, or the ethics the company adheres to. Ongoing progress and
evolution in people’s lives will keep the company up-to-date, instead of allowing it to be stifled by sticking to the same brainwashed approach in the walled-off corporate world.

A system that updates itself constantly and allows for adaptability is self-sustaining. Continuous iterative improvement is the most sustainable approach. Is your company up for it?

Watch the video - http://bit.ly/ssisa-myth5

11/02/2020

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Would you say you're a good listener? Probably, yes. But the truth is a little different. Just like we all believe we're above-average or even good drivers, we also believe we're good listeners. Most people think good listening is nothing but encouraging listeners to remain quiet while the other per...

07/02/2020

MYTH 4: IT’S OLD-FASHIONED

The way people work together and the issues that come with collaboration have not changed. The tribal issues, the anthropology behind how a company is structured: those are still the same. By giving people the freedom to express themselves the way that suits them best, and leaving it in their hands how to do their work and when to deliver, you are giving people ownership of what they do. What we used to do in the
past is still relevant today.

In response to ongoing innovations and technological progress, the world has grown smaller, which means that things are more like how Semco operated in the ’80s or ’90s.
What seems taboo now worked perfectly fine then and can work perfectly fine now – only now people are ready to accept
that it can actually be done.

The world has changed dramatically; the way people work
together has not. Collaboration based on ownership is anything but old-fashioned.

Are you ready to let go of the taboo?

Watch the video - http://bit.ly/ssisa-myth4

30/01/2020

Join the Whatsapp group where we explore behaviours, principles & practices that make up the company of the future.

If you would like to share a little about yourself and your business that would be great.

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