While we fight terrorism around the world to bring freedom to new lands but we continue to have one area of society in our own country that is without an organizational cuture of democracy and that is our business organizations.

We have in business and other organizations a patriarchical structure where the belief is that those at the top are responsible for the success of the organization and the well being of its members. Today's organizations are governed by valuing above all else consistency, control and predicability. Very little democracy exists within most business organizations. Many organizations breed helplessness and compliance, autocratic governess withers our spirit.

Peter Block in his book STEWARDSHIP both describes and prescribes a new way of thinking about our organizatins. He proposes an organization of partnership over patriarchy and of choosing service over self-interest.

This book was seminal in its impact on my thinking after 20+ years of being in various management roles and impacts daily how I choose to spend my time and how I behave in the world.