When we talk about corporate governance, we often oppose top-down management and bottom-up management. While the former is the most common within organizations, the latter is beginning to be democratized, and rightly so: it offers numerous advantages. We invite you to learn more about bottom-up management and its benefits. You will then discover the list of the 5 essential steps for its implementation to be a success in your business.
Bottom-up management: what is it?
The principles of bottom-up
Bottom-up management is based on a very participatory approach: all employees are involved in the decision-making process. The objectives are set by employees who are at the bottom of the hierarchy, and are gradually integrated into the overall strategy of the company, in a convergent manner.
In English, bottom-up can be translated as “from the bottom up.” This includes the idea that people at the bottom of the ladder are the decision-makers. We also talk about “participatory management”.
Difference with the top-down
The top-down approach refers to the management that is most often found in companies. All strategic decisions are taken there by company management or by managers. Employees must then execute them and meet the objectives set. This process is very hierarchical and sometimes authoritarian.
The main advantages of bottom-up management
Transforming classical management into bottom-up management little by little offers various advantages.
First of all, by giving more responsibilities to your employees, they are more involved in your structure. They are encouraged to think about the objectives, to analyze the different possibilities in the face of a problem and to develop their collective intelligence. It can also lead to a greater appreciation of their skills, a better image of themselves and more development. All this results in a higher engagement rate among your employees. And more committed employees are generally more productive and efficient.
A high engagement rate can also lead to more loyalty for your employees. The drop in turnover is a huge asset: recruiting is sometimes difficult and very expensive.
Finally, implementing bottom-up management can make your company much more attractive to talent. It is a strong element of corporate culture, which can be easily put forward in order to attract the best profiles.
Download our bottom-up management infographic!
Explore the principles and benefits of bottom-up management with our detailed infographic.
🔍 What you will discover:
- The foundations of participatory and bottom-up management
- The benefits for employee engagement and productivity
- How to implement an inclusive and effective management approach
Don't miss this opportunity to explore a new way to lead your team!
👉 Download now to find out how bottom-up management can transform your organization!
The 5 steps to implement bottom-up management
If you are convinced by bottom-up management and want to implement it within your company, here are the 5 essential steps.
Step 1: take stock and define a road map
Before each major change in your structure, it is important to take stock of the current situation. Then try to define as precisely as possible the type of governance you want to establish in your structure. These goals allow you to establish a specific road map. It can be adjusted later if necessary.
Step 2: make your teams aware of the subject
For this change to be a success, it is important for all employees to be aware of the benefits of bottom-up management. For people who are used to following orders, this new responsibility can be frightening. It is therefore necessary to take the time to reassure them and to show them the interest that they can derive from it.
Managers may be the most resistant to the process. Some will fear losing their “boss” status. It is therefore absolutely necessary to give them all the elements to fully understand what their new role consists of. They will now have to support the teams and coach them, and no longer just manage them. Even if they will no longer be the only ones making decisions, their role remains important.
Step 3: train team managers
Taking the time to train team managers is a necessary step for a successful bottom-up implementation.
As mentioned above, their role is subject to change: it is therefore essential to give them the keys to be able to implement this change correctly. Working differently requires a learning phase.
Step 4: set up the bottom-up in a concrete way
Once your teams are informed and have fully integrated the essential principles of bottom-up management, let's go!
Collaborating and interacting differently requires a small amount of time to adapt. Over time, new habits will be created, with a new mindset and a different decision-making process. Some people may take longer than others to integrate this innovative way of working together. The most important thing is to support this evolution little by little, without being too sudden.
Step 5: choose innovative tools to support the bottom-up
To help you in the process of implementing bottom-up management within your company, you can choose one or more innovative tools to support you.
Teamstarter is a powerful tool to support you in this process. Indeed, this crowdfunding platform allows employees to assign a specific budget each month to the project of their choice. Each proposal is issued by a member of the company, who will be responsible for implementing it once the amount necessary to implement it has been collected. This type of initiative allows employees to realize that they too can have good ideas and that they are also able to make choices for their company. It allows them to be engaged sustainably while encouraging initiative.
The implementation of bottom-up management in a company is often very beneficial, with positive effects on commitment, productivity and performance in the long term. However, it may take some time for teams to accept this. Do not rush things: this change can be implemented smoothly, by following the 5 steps that we have just revealed to you. If necessary, do not hesitate to contact a company specialized in the subject: a professional can then assist you and guide you as you go.
Sommaire
