Leading Without Limits: Empowering Self-Management in the Modern Workplace
As a C-level executive with over 20 years of experience, I often grappled with how to create an organization filled with empowered leaders who could take initiative and make informed decisions without my constant oversight. Too often, the workplace felt more like a daycare center than a professional environment where self-motivated adults worked together toward a common goal. This led me to evaluate my own time management, and I was alarmed to discover that I was spending 90% of my time on routine tasks and only 10% on strategic initiatives. Realizing that this imbalance was unsustainable, I knew I needed to rethink the way I was leading my organization.
It was at this point that I discovered the emerging concept of self-management—a model where the organizational system itself empowers individuals, eliminating the need for traditional managers to oversee every action. In a self-managed environment, everyone takes on leadership roles within their specific areas of expertise. Six months after implementing self-management principles, I saw a dramatic shift in my own capacity for strategic thinking, with the time I devoted to strategic work increasing from 10% to 80%. This transformative experience, along with others, convinced me that self-management is not just an option but a necessity for effective leadership in today's rapidly changing world.
Over the past five years, I have been helping companies and government organizations around the globe transition to this new model of leadership. Through this journey, I've gained valuable insights into what makes self-management successful. My aim today is to share some of my personal experiences and the lessons I've learned along the way. My ultimate goal for this session is to ignite your curiosity and open your mind to alternative ways of organizing and leading—approaches that differ significantly from the traditional hierarchical model, which was developed in an era when the telegraph was the height of technological advancement.
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Michael DeAngelo
Michael DeAngelo is a distinguished C-level executive with over 20 years of experience leading transformative initiatives across both private and public sectors. Serving as Deputy CIO for the State of Washington and Deputy Director at Washington Technology Solutions, Michael has been at the forefront of driving significant operational and technological change. He also held the position of CIO at the Department of Fish and Wildlife, where he developed and executed innovative IT strategies that enhanced efficiency and organizational effectiveness.
Michael is a trailblazer in the field of self-management and is recognized as the first person in the world to successfully implement this model within a government setting. His pioneering work in promoting self-management—where employees are empowered to take initiative and lead in their respective areas without the need for traditional managerial oversight—has resulted in improved agility, higher employee engagement, and a substantial increase in strategic focus within organizations. Michael's commitment to validating these transformative practices led him to conduct the only quantitative analysis comparing self-management with traditional hierarchy, in partnership with Harvard Business School, further solidifying his expertise in this area.
As a sought-after speaker and consultant, Michael has shared his insights with companies and government agencies around the globe, advocating for leadership models that inspire innovation, adaptability, and employee empowerment. His leadership philosophy is rooted in the belief that self-organized systems are essential for thriving in today's complex and rapidly evolving environment. Michael holds an Executive MBA from the University of Washington, a B.S. in Computer Science & Mathematics from the University of Puget Sound, and a certification in Leading Diverse Teams & Organizations from the University of Michigan. His thought leadership extends to Agile methodologies, Technology Business Management (TBM), and the strategic integration of emerging technologies, making him a key influencer in the future of work
