What kind of decison making culture do you have: Permission, constraint or consent?

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There are two options for decision making culture: permission culture and constraint culture. A permission culture requires individuals to ask permission before taking action, leading to a lack of judgment and initiative. In contrast, a constraint culture allows individuals to take action unless explicitly prohibited, creating space for innovation and problem-solving. Constraints, such as purpose statements, hiring processes, and policies, eliminate certain options and focus energy in a specific direction. Building a constraint-based culture creates room for creativity and higher levels of judgment. However, individuals accustomed to a permission culture may experience discomfort when given autonomy and struggle to make decisions without seeking permission. Transitioning from permission to constraint culture can be a pivotal moment in one's career.

What if you could change the way your company operates, even if you’re not the CEO? Aaron Dignan believes it’s possible, and in this episode he’s offering a wealth of insights into how organizations are run, the perils of stagnant bureaucracy, and all the various hurdles keeping us from doing our best work.

As the founder of The Ready - a global organizational transformation and coaching practice - Dignan helps companies large and small adopt new forms of self-organization and dynamic teaming. He’s worked with clients such as American Express, Microsoft, Citibank, Hyatt, Johnson & Johnson, Airbnb, and Sweetgreen. He’s also an active angel investor who helps build partnerships between the startups and end-ups he advises. Dignan is also the author of Brave New Work, co-host of the Brave New Work podcast and founder of Murmur.

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