Lattice organization

Principles: Fairness, Freedom, Commitments, Waterline

Everyone will:

• Sincerely try to be fair with each other, suppliers, our customers, and all persons with whom we carry out transactions.
• Allow, help and encourage associates to grow in knowledge, skill, scope of responsibility and range of activities. (Freedom)
• Make his or her own commitments—and keep them.
• Consult with other associates before taking actions that might be “below the waterline” and cause serious damage to the enterprise. (Boat analogy: shooting the boat below the waterline—damaging the reputation or financial health of the business—could result in sinking it.)

Associates

• All employees are "associates".
• Every associate has a sponsor who guides him/her in growing in contribution.
• Leadership evolves based on knowledge, skill, experience or capability in the particular activity in which a team is involved.
• Leaders are associates who have developed followers.
• Each person in the lattice interacts directly with every other person.
• Teams or groups formulate their own plans of action rather than having them dictated to them.
• Each associate self-commits to projects or responsibilities.

Leaders:

• focus on business objectives
• coordinate activities
• align teams to meet goals
• many different types with different areas of focus

Leaders offer associates:

• Assistance in problem solving
• Acknowledgement of team accomplishments
• Encouragement
• Definition of problems
• Help in strategy formulation
• Explanation of business practices
• “Big picture” viewpoint
• Role model behavior

Sponsors:

• Engage in a one-on-one relationship
• Focus on the development and growth of the associate

Sponsors offer associates:

• Encouragement
• Guidance on principles and practices
• Feedback on performance
• Help in securing resources
• Advocacy for the associate in compensation discussions
• Guidance in personal development planning
• Role model behavior

Sponsoring vs. Leading:

• Sponsoring is a one-on-one relationship. The focus is on the individual, helping them grow in their contribution.
• Leading is with a group or team. The focus is on the business opportunity, helping the individuals align with team and business goals.
• Sponsors and leaders are not necessarily two different people.