Self-Organization and Strategy Development - Part 2

Part 2: Learnings from our strategy process

When Many Cooks Make a Better Broth

The saying “too many cooks spoil the broth” doesn’t apply when the process is set up correctly. On the contrary: including all perspectives leads to better outcomes.

Why Confusion Has a Strengthening Effect

In complex strategy processes, temporary confusion is normal - even productive. It shows that people are genuinely engaging with the material rather than just nodding along. If everyone immediately agrees, you probably haven’t pushed thinking far enough.

Why Authorship Is the Magic Potion for Teams

When team members co-develop the strategy themselves, they identify with it far more strongly. They’re not just executors, but co-creators. This massively increases motivation and commitment.

The difference:

• Traditional: “Here’s the strategy. Now execute.”
• Participative: “Here’s the strategy we built together. Let’s make it happen.”

Our Key Learnings

• Provide structure: Even in self-organization, you need clear processes. Freedom doesn’t mean chaos.
• Plan time: Participative processes take longer, but the results are more sustainable. What you lose in speed, you gain in buy-in.
• Trust the team: The team can handle more than you think. Give them the space to surprise you.
• Allow iteration: The first version is rarely the final one. Build in cycles for refinement.

Continued in Part 3…