The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish cover image

The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish

#158 Aaron Dignan: Change The Way You Work

Feb 7, 2023
Aaron Dignan, founder of The Ready and author of *Brave New Work*, explores how individuals, even those without formal power, can stimulate change within organizations. He shares insights on dismantling outdated bureaucratic structures, fostering dynamic teamwork, and leveraging feedback loops for sustainable growth. Dignan discusses the need for flexibility in workplace practices and champions a culture that emphasizes principles over rigid policies. With a focus on inclusive decision-making, he advocates for innovative approaches to empower all employees.
01:22:22

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Large companies are not monolithic entities but rather collections of small groups with their own principles and minimal interaction.
  • Work feels broken because of bureaucracy and lack of incentives to eliminate it. Solutions should focus on removing obstacles to employees' best work.

Deep dives

The Illusion of Big Companies

The speaker emphasizes that there is no such thing as a big company, but rather a collection of small groups operating under the same banner. Each group lives with its own shared principles and rarely interacts with other divisions. This understanding challenges the common perception of large companies as monolithic entities.

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