Description: The nonprofit sector is drawn to the idea of flat org charts — but most organizations don't have great examples of what that actually looks like in practice. Why do we cling to hierarchy even when it conflicts with the values we're trying to model? And what does it actually take — not just philosophically, but day-to-day — to share power inside an organization?

Hillary explores the conditions that make less hierarchical structures work, and the internal work that has to happen before you ever touch the org chart. You'll also hear from three co-executive directors at All Souls Church in Boulder, Colorado, who stopped theorizing about shared leadership and started living it.

You'll hear about:

Teal organizations, holacracy, and mutual aid — and what each model actually looks like in practice
The three things less hierarchical org charts require before they can work
Why collective liberation work has to come before you flatten the org chart

Mentioned:

Laloux, F. (2014). Reinventing organizations: A guide to creating organizations inspired by the next stage of human consciousness. Nelson Parker.

Mont, S. (2017, January 9). Autopsy of a failed holacracy: Lessons in justice, equity, and self-management. Nonprofit Quarterly.

Valve Handbook

Guests:

Leah Cousin. Leah joined the staff in 2016 after being part of the community at All Souls for nearly a decade. She enjoys reigning in the vision filled minds of those around her in the office and producing action plans to achieve those visions. She is passionate about all things vegetables: farming, cooking, and sitting around a table with friends and family to enjoy a meal.

Rachel Zylstra. Rachel is a lifelong learner, adventurer, friend, partner, mother, teacher, and 7 on the Enneagram. She’s been on staff at All Souls Church of Boulder since 2014. She is passionate about discovering and exploring faith through the lens of wonder, healing, and finding the childlikeness in all of us.

Will Forsythe. Will was born and raised in Colorado, and is now serving as the Pastor of All Souls Church of Boulder. Will graduated from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. He has worked in youth ministry, missions, and church planting, but is excited to now call Boulder home. In his free time, Will can be found fishing, reading Russian literature, biking, or drinking a good IPA.

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