Theme 01
Authority & Coordination Dynamics
Blocks — patterns that concentrate and calcify power
The Bottleneck Leader
Block
Centralizing leadership to manage decision overload leads to dependency.
Problem
In rapidly evolving environments, decision-making becomes overwhelming. Individuals feel lost without clear direction.
How it plays out
Power concentrates in a single leader who "keeps things organized" — which creates stagnation, dependency, and risks burnout or authoritarianism.
The Gatekeeper Effect
Block
Filtering access in growing organizations concentrates control.
Problem
As organizations expand, filtering access to key resources becomes challenging — a few individuals become de facto gatekeepers.
How it plays out
The attempt to maintain quality ends up restricting participation and innovation by concentrating control.
The Cult of the Founder
Block
Charismatic leadership creates dependency and stifles succession.
Problem
When groups form around a charismatic leader, power becomes overly concentrated, stifling governance evolution and suppressing succession.
How it plays out
Dependency on a single figure limits fresh ideas and undermines distributed leadership.
Unblocks — moves that distribute and revitalise authority
Shared Stewardship
Unblock
Rotates leadership roles to distribute power and enhance inclusivity.
Problem it addresses
Centralized leadership leads to burnout and exclusion by confining decision-making to a small group.
The move
Rotate leadership roles and share responsibility across the community to distribute power, enhance resilience, and encourage inclusivity.
Consent, Not Consensus
Unblock
Uses consent-based decision-making to balance inclusion with action.
Problem it addresses
Striving for full consensus can slow decisions and marginalize minority viewpoints, leading to ineffective, watered-down outcomes.
The move
Adopt a consent-based approach — "good enough for now, safe enough to try" — to balance inclusivity with timely action.
Power as Resource, Not Authority
Unblock
Reframes power as enabling collective action rather than control.
Problem it addresses
Viewing power solely as control creates hierarchical bottlenecks and undermines collaborative efforts.
The move
Reframe power as a resource that supports collective action, care, and innovation rather than serving as a tool for domination.
Right Decision, Right Level
Unblock
Aligns decision-making authority with the group best suited to act.
Problem it addresses
Decision-making at inappropriate levels creates bottlenecks or concentrates power inefficiently.
The move
Align decision-making authority with the group or domain most equipped to handle it, ensuring responsiveness and contextual insight.
Naming the Invisible
Unblock
Makes implicit dynamics explicit to clarify roles and accountability.
Problem it addresses
Hidden assumptions and unspoken agreements lead to confusion and misaligned expectations.
The move
Use visual tools and open dialogue to reveal and clarify invisible structures, roles, and accountability.