Self-organization doesn’t happen by magic! How can managers help build it?
If you’re reading this article, it’s likely because the concept of self-organization speaks to you.
It often comes up in Agile training, built around this core principle:
“The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams.”
Some might even wonder—do we still need managers?
The answer is a clear and confident yes. But the role is evolving.
How is the manager’s role evolving?
What does a manager’s day look like when leading self-organizing teams?
How does the Montessori Extended training support self-organization?
Why self-organization?
In a world where everything is constantly shifting—clients, competitors, technologies—we operate in what’s known as a VUCA environment: Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous.
Gone are the days of rigid responsibility matrices like RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed).
Decision-making matrices are giving way to open discussions and decentralized decision-making.
The moment the game begins, the rules are already changing.
To reach your goals in this environment as a manager, you need a strong, trusted team—a collective you can truly rely on and partner with.
Have you tried self-organization?
Whether in person or remote, at work or in a community setting, self-organization is a powerful way to save time and increase client satisfaction.
Related Trainings in Our Catalog
What is self-organization, really?
Self-organization doesn’t mean “everyone just does whatever they want.”
It’s a collaborative space where everyone contributes to a shared goal that feels meaningful to them.
It’s also a space for expression and personal growth—respecting each individual’s own intentions.
If, as a leader, manager, change agent, or HR professional, you believe these statements to be true—and that your organization would benefit from consciously and enthusiastically moving toward more self-organization—then you’re in the right place.
How is the manager’s role evolving?
In an Agile environment, the manager seeks to answer the following question through their actions (to use the words of Suzy Canivenc, Ph.D. in Information and Communication Sciences and specialist in organizational communication):
Self-organization creates a collaborative space where each person contributes to a shared goal that makes sense to them. It’s also a place for expression and personal growth, respecting each individual’s own path.
If, as a leader, manager, change agent, or HR professional, you believe these statements to be true—and that your organization would benefit from consciously and enthusiastically moving toward more self-organization—then you’re in the right place.
“How can we shift from a command-and-control style to one of support and facilitation?”
“How can a manager spark team dynamics and support the group in delivering quality work using a method the team has defined together?”
What does day-to-day life look like for a manager leading self-organizing teams?
The manager would focus their time and energy on facilitating collaboration within the team and beyond. They would prepare and structure the environment—the broader system—by addressing topics such as:
Creating time and space for the team to self-organize
Making collaboration a natural reflex, encouraging daily peer support and collective problem-solving
Turning conflict into constructive dialogue
Smoothing out cross-team collaboration and breaking down silos
Finding the right resources for the team to bring its ideas to life
Coaching team members both professionally and in their personal career paths
Montessori Extended helps accelerate this shift in managerial posture—consciously and intentionally.
How does the Montessori Extended training support self-organization?
You’ll learn how to design an environment that nurtures both individual and organizational learning.
It draws on key Montessori principles while supporting your team’s intrinsic motivation.
Throughout the training, you’ll gain practical, tailored tools to structure your system—fit to your unique context.
The training path
Participants in the training will develop their observation skills and their ability to choose the right action for each situation in order to foster greater self-organization. The program offers hands-on practice, introspection, and meaningful exchanges with people from diverse backgrounds. Participants also benefit from intermediate coaching sessions.
The training gives you the opportunity to experiment and benefit from personalized support through coaching sessions and a shared learning journal with your instructor.
Modules include:
The 4 components of Montessori Extended
Building a team development plan
Creating self-organization
The laws of individual learning
The learning organization
Diagnosing a situation
Acting on the environment
Final review and celebration
Testimonials from participants of Montessori Extended:
Wondering if it really works?
“Understanding human tendencies and collaboration dynamics gave me a fresh perspective on complex situations. I also really valued the diagnostic work using the cards.”
“I’ve done other Agile trainings, but I appreciate that this one focuses on creating self-managed teams. It helped me approach change from a whole new angle.”
“Now I have a lot more tools to help me make decisions in difficult situations.”
“Mija joined our team to help us implement Scrum—but what she really did was guide us toward self-organization.
She introduced a culture of collaboration and growth by:
– Actively involving every team member in Agile ceremonies (stand-ups, retrospectives, refinements, planning, demos), which strengthened engagement, collective decision-making, and individual progress.
– Clarifying objectives for each sprint and introducing performance indicators to track productivity, which improved task distribution, accountability, and technical collaboration (pair programming/reviews)—ultimately boosting overall productivity.
– Using an iterative approach (try/keep/trash), Mija empowered the team to identify what worked, test new ideas, and adopt or drop them based on real outcomes.”
3 training formats available
You can choose the format that suits you best:
A 3-hour workshop to explore and experiment.
Eight 3-hour online modules delivered every two weeks, plus 6 hours of coaching/cross-coaching.
Do you have multiple people interested in this training? Contact us to organize a personalized session and benefit from exclusive group rates.
