The world of work is changing—and thank goodness for that.
Recently, I picked up Humanocracy by Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini, and it felt like reading a manifesto for everything I believe leadership should be. If you haven’t read it, here’s the essence: Bureaucracy is outdated, soul-crushing, and terrible for innovation. Instead, Hamel and Zanini make a bold case for creating human-centric organisations where creativity, autonomy, and purpose are the true engines of success.
It’s a book that speaks directly to my heart—and to the core of how I lead our company. After all, Happy People Drive Your Business isn’t just a tagline for us. It’s a promise. And breaking free from bureaucracy is essential to keeping that promise.
Hamel and Zanini describe bureaucracy as the great silent killer of engagement and creativity. It’s the red tape, the hierarchy, the obsession with control that crushes the very qualities organisations need to thrive: adaptability, passion, and initiative.
And here’s the thing—bureaucracy doesn’t just kill creativity. It undermines meritocracy. It rewards compliance over competence, hierarchy over talent. People are held back not by their own abilities, but by systems designed to protect the status quo.
To me, that’s unacceptable. The most innovative ideas, the most committed leadership, and the most transformative solutions don’t come from titles or tenure. They come from talent, effort, and impact.
Meritocracy is about empowering people to thrive based on their skills, creativity, and contributions—not their rank or how well they play office politics. And if we’re serious about putting people first, we have to be relentless about recognising, rewarding, and promoting genuine merit.
The authors challenge us to think differently about leadership. And it perfectly aligns with our philosophy that Happy People Drive Your Business. When you create an environment where people feel empowered to bring their whole selves to work—where creativity and initiative are valued above mere compliance—that’s when the magic happens.
And meritocracy is at the heart of that vision. At our company, we’re committed to building systems that reward people for their contributions, not their positions. Here’s how we’re making it happen:
- Empowering Teams: We actively promote autonomy by encouraging teams to set their own goals and experiment without fear of failure. This isn’t just about innovation—it’s about recognising great work when we see it, no matter where it comes from.
- Flattening Hierarchies: Titles and org charts matter less than the value each person brings to the table. We’re breaking down silos and creating communities where ideas can flow freely, regardless of rank or role.
- Promoting Co-Creation: True innovation happens when everyone has a voice. We’re fostering collaboration not just within teams but across the entire organisation—because great ideas don’t respect department lines.
- Encouraging Continuous Learning: We’re focused on evolution over perfection. Our goal is to build a culture of experimentation where mistakes are celebrated as learning opportunities.
- Rewarding Impact, Not Rank: We’re committed to recognising and rewarding contributions based on merit. That means celebrating creative problem-solving, bold leadership, and genuine collaboration—regardless of titles or tenure.
What resonates most with me about Humanocracy is the emphasis on leading from the inside out. Hamel and Zanini stress that breaking free from bureaucracy isn’t just about changing structures—it’s about changing mindsets. And that starts with us, as leaders.
I’ve come to realise that empowering others means letting go of control. It means trusting people to do their best work without micromanaging or stifling creativity. It means embracing vulnerability and admitting when I don’t have all the answers.
Because the truth is, none of us do. And that’s okay. But here’s something I feel even more strongly about: Meritocracy is non-negotiable. Talent deserves to be recognised and rewarded. People deserve opportunities based on their skills and contributions—not how well they fit into a rigid hierarchy.
If you’re not building a culture that values merit, you’re leaving brilliance untapped. And I won’t accept that. Because activating human potential is the key to everything we want to achieve. The future belongs to companies that are agile, human-centric, and deeply committed to empowering their people. And I’m proud to say that we’re on that path.
But this isn’t a journey with a finish line. It’s an ongoing process of learning, evolving, and staying true to our belief. The old rules of leadership are crumbling. And I, for one, couldn’t be happier about it. Because when you dismantle bureaucracy, reward true merit, and unleash human potential, extraordinary things happen.
And I’m here to make sure we never lose sight of that.
Love,
Amanda