Thus, through exposing employees to this type of a definition regarding employee involvement, managers can help them feel empowered and prepared to make decisions because those decisions will, ultimately, affect them.
In addition to presenting the new flat organizational model to them in a way that will motivate them based on the importance of their making decisions, managers and other executives can prepare employees to become involved in the decision making process by providing them with scenarios, and asking them to practice, in groups, making decisions regarding them. Through this exercise, workers begin to practice using their problem solving skills. They will also realize that the other employees in their groups have very different ideas, backgrounds, and skills. This will help prepare them for the dynamics of decision making, which often involve bringing together many people of different backgrounds, asking them to come up with a common solution. This can be complicated for those who have never worked in such a group before. Thus, the exercise can serve as both learning opportunity and a training experience for employees becoming involved in the decision-making process for the first time. Also, it can serve as an opportunity through which to introduce and excite workers about the prospects of being involved in decision-making.
Finally, involving...
Employees who have long worked in an area that does not incorporate the flat model may feel awkward in doing this, as they have long been taught to suppress their opinions in the hopes that the managers will not become angry or engage in any firing. In order to do this, the supervisor should hold several forums in which he or she takes the opinions of workers and reflects on his or her happiness that they have decided to express themselves in such a way. In this way, workers can understand that communicating with the supervisor does not have to be a frightening task, but instead can be an opportunity.
Thus, the flat organizational model is an excellent way to encourage employees to become personally motivated in their work. The flat organizational model allows employees to make decisions and voice their opinions in matters that would have been up to upper management in the past. Because many employees are not used to this model, however, they must be prepared for engaging in this task. Managers and supervisors can prepare them by explaining the benefit the process will have on their own work, having them engage in exercises, and allowing them to feel comfortable speaking their opinions to the supervisor.
