Do you tend to gain consensus before you make big decisions, or do you go it alone when it comes down to the line? Would you agree … that while some leaders rush ahead with personal points of view, decision-makers who sustain a firm’s growth find power in consensus? According to new research ... monkeys may have lessons to teach us on this one too.
An interesting study at University of Chicago Press Journals shows that 
power emerges from consensus in monkey social networks. This study differs from most research on consensus building … as it looks at the role communication plays in the emergence of social structures.
Power structure is important because it influence all group members … those it includes as well as those it excludes. .
Using information theory, the researchers showed how power emerges through consensus. A high degree of consensus that a person is powerful … through multiple subordination signals from many individuals. This research showed pigtailed macaque monkeys, who displayed a silent bared-teeth expression.
Less consensus exists if signals come from only a few. A person seen as powerful tends to have the authority to terminate or reduce many conflicts at work. We see power structures in conflict management, for instance.
Do you think this knowledge of organic evolution and other broad biological principles can help us to understand power and consensus at work?
It seems to me that this research also invites another look at how to build consensus at work. That is why I’ve been investigating this area. What do you think?
I went back to the article to which you linked just to make sure I read that correctly - a silent bared-teeth expression in the monkey world is a show of being subordinate.
I can imagine corporate board rooms across America if we adopted that approach - talk about "cultural" differences!
Happy Labor Day - Ellen!
Posted by: ann michael | September 4, 2006 8:17 PM | Permalink to Comment