Rich Kao

"If you cut off a spider's head, it dies; but if you cut off a starfish's leg, it grows a new one, and that leg can grow into an entirely new starfish.  Traditional topdown organizations are like spiders, but now starfish organizations are changing the face of business and the world."  by Ori Bafman & Rod Beckstrom

With that thought, a fresh book on "flat, leaderless" organization was born.  And so were a legion of fans.

There is something powerful, highly attractive, even romantic about a low-overhead, flat, decentralized organization in which a grand pooh bah doesn't have to be in the middle.  You become a highly economical enterprise that can't be killed, reproduces quickly and is very effective.  Think Skype, Napster, Wikipedia, AA, and Al-qaeda...and from my field of vision, the new testament grass roots church that is spreading all around the world.

Brafman and Beckstrom have hit on a dynamic that is real and exciting.  I appreciate their objectivity in not bashing traditional top-down organizations, but talk about how organizations can all benefit from Starfish principles, even promoting a hybrid starfish-spider model.

This book is definitely a worthy read for pastors and church planters as it will get you to think about how to make the church more a people movement, and how to be a "catalyst-leader."  It touches on many biblical themes (not overtly but in principle) like releasing the saints to do the work of the ministry, instilling the DNA in everyone, and being responsive to the times with creativity.  It also has great leadership lessons and will help readers reflect on their own leadership style.

For a abstract of the book, download here.   Otherwise, buy the book, this is one where the details are worth it.