Introducing: Becoming an Octopus Organization

Añadido: 2026-04-28

[00:00:00]Have you ever sat in a meeting where everyone seems to agree, but no one really knows what's been decided? I'm Phil Lebron. My co-author, Yana, and I have spent years helping organizations work in more adaptive ways. And one problem we see all the time is this.

[00:00:13]Teams rely on language that sounds professional, but actually makes it harder to understand what's actually being said. Phrases like leveraging synergies or driving transformation create the illusion of alignment when in reality, everyone walks away with a different interpretation. This is just one of the problems we see in organizations that struggle to keep up with today's complex, fast-moving environment. In our work, we see the opposite in what we call Octopus organizations, a more adaptive model where teams prioritize clarity, share understanding quickly, and act on what they learn. That's what our 8week newsletter explores. Each week, we break down one thing holding organizations back, and give you one practical shift to help you work in more adaptable ways.

[00:00:57]If you want to build a team that can move faster because it understands what matters, you can subscribe at hbr.org.