Did you know there is a magic formula in the structure of trees? It was discovered just over 500 years ago by Leonardo da Vinci, who noticed a pattern in the trees around him. When he measured the total cross sectional area of a tree’s branch and twigs at any height, he found they added up to the cross sectional area of its trunk. The pattern is so common it’s used to generate computer images of trees today. According to the “Physical Review Letters” journal this pattern and structure helps trees cope with gusts of wind. Other scientists say it’s the best way to carry a tree’s plumbing from the roots to its leaves. Either way it is fascinating!

It made me wonder whether there is a magic formula in the way leaders structure organisations. Traditionally they used the pyramid structure, which has served us well particularly when it comes to industries that require that military style precision, which is where the model originates. However, there are new types of organisations now emerging that have different goals, employ different types of people and cater to different customer needs. This “one size fits all” model no longer works for everyone. Today we have a number of alternative models including flat, matrix, network and virtual. It seems that with the diverse range of organisations we now have there might not be one magic formula for structuring an organisation as there is with trees. The magic part seems to be in finding the right one for your organisation. So don’t be afraid to experiment with your structure, weave your magic and see if you can come up with something that really suits your needs and creates an engaging organisation.

Tags: Leadership and management, Leadership skills, Organisational culture, Organisational structure