A Framework for Total System Empowerment

By Barry Oshry

Each of us, regardless of our position in the organization, needs to:

see ourself as constantly shifting in and out of Top, Bottom, Middle, and Customer conditions, know that in each condition we have the system power potential for strengthening the system’s ability to survive and develop, to cope with the dangers in its environment and to prospect among its opportunities, recognize that when we’re in the Top condition, our system power potential is to function as Developers, in the Bottom condition as Fixers, in the Middle condition as Integrators, and in the Customer condition as Validators, and, in order to achieve the system power of these conditions, avoid the reflex responses: sucking up responsibility when we’re Top, holding higher-ups responsible when we’re Bottom, losing our connectivity when we’re Middle; and holding delivery systems responsible for delivery when we’re Customers.

These forms of system power enhance one another and together create Total System Power.