Small-Scale Organisations
🏢 Founder syndrome; underperformance blamed on individuals
The table for Small-scale Organisations is now ready, revealing how founder-centric mental models can limit learning — and how each developmental stage offers different capacities to surface and transform those beliefs.
Founder syndrome
Belief: “Only I know what’s best for this organisation.”
Mental model tools allow reflection on control vs. collaboration.
Underperformance blamed on individuals
Assumption: “They’re lazy or uncommitted.”
Assumption: “My vision is the only one. Failure means others didn’t try hard enough.”
Self-discipline: Question assumptions of control and competence. Invite others into shared meaning and feedback loops.
Surfacing beliefs may reveal unspoken expectations or unclear communication.
Systems Thinking Research & Leadership Development Institute (STRLDi) 