Titles: Everyone's a VP

Happy Friday!

Titles are reflexive. No one gives their existence a second thought.

Let’s give titles a second thought.

Rationale for Titles: Titles bring clarity to the internal hierarchy, defining roles and inferring levels of capability. They provide a clear path for career advancement, and they can be used to enhance credibility outside the organization. 

None of these, except maybe the last one, make an organization perform better.

From an owner/CEO's perspective, titles are a recurring headache, more like a migraine, with no appreciable upside. They're a regular source of strife and wasted time, resulting in the organization performing worse, not better. 

Consider:

1.     Titles create a caste system that divides people, inviting abuse, resentment, hurt feelings, and frustration that ultimately reduces engagement.

2.     Titles offer the illusion of being a leader without requiring the substance.

3.     Titles beckon people to distance themselves from their craft rather than master it, i.e., the greater the distance, the more prestigious the title.

4.     Once given, they're almost impossible to take away, making titles a straightjacket that constrains organizational fluidity and adaptiveness. 

The problems stem from having multiple titles, i.e., each title needs to be defined, and every person subjectively assessed and assigned. Then, the title hierarchy must be constantly monitored and adjusted to soothe expectations and meet the organization's changing needs. It's a game you can't win.

The alternative is to eliminate the headache and heartache entirely by assigning everyone in the organization the same great title—vice President.

Immediate benefits: 

1. Recruiting - Every position comes with a title they can’t get elsewhere.

2.  Retention – Quitting results in a demotion.

3.  Title egoists – Neutered

4.     Caste system – Eliminated

5.     Equity goals/virtue signaling—Far exceeded 

6.     Focus—More on excellence, less on the next rung of the ladder.

7.     Unity – More, not less. 

9.     Engagement - Stronger.

“Sorry, but this is pretty nuts…I mean, nobody does this...”

Oh yeah! Differentiation. That’s benefit #10.

You don't have to put VP on everyone's business card. Maybe client-facing folks only. Then, simplify job descriptions.

“Yeah, but leaders have to have a title.” Why is that? A title doesn’t make a person a leader. You can still publish a reporting structure. But instead of titles, try this instead:

"Message to staff: Eloise will be leading our Water Sector. She has my full support. Please give her yours. If someone else proves the more effective leader in the future, the switch will be made."

By eliminating the reward and permanence of a title, leadership positions have to be earned to be held (imagine), creating more opportunities for everyone and incentivizing better leadership by all.

Punchline: When you reach a local limit, you rethink and redesign. Titles have reached their local limit and have become a hindrance to maximum performance.

Agree, or no, at least you've now given the existence of titles some much-deserved scrutiny, which is more than most can say. 😄

Have a terrific weekend,

Dave

Feedback and blowback are always welcome: dave@goodnewsfriday.com

All past topics are still available at @goodnewsfriday.com

Written by me, not ChatGPT, with speed assist by Grammarly.