Great leadership is a network, not a hierarchy

Management consultant Gitte Frederiksen presents a compelling case for ‘distributed leadership’.

She advocates for a shift from traditional hierarchical leadership structures to dynamic, multi-dimensional networks of leaders that utilize everyone’s knowledge and creativity.

This approach, she argues, allows teams to achieve more and do it better.

The concept of distributed leadership

Leadership should not be confined to a select few but should be shared among many.

This concept, known as ‘distributed leadership’, involves creating dynamic, multi-dimensional networks of leaders that tap into everyone’s knowledge and creativity.

It’s an approach that fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment within teams, leading to more effective problem-solving and innovation.

“We need to create leaders, not followers.” – Gitte Frederiksen

Limitations of hierarchical leadership

Hierarchical leadership structures often create bottlenecks and exclude diverse ideas and capabilities.

They can be ineffective and slow, hindering progress and innovation.

By contrast, distributed leadership replaces the power of the few with the influence of the many, allowing for faster progress and better quality outcomes.