In a meritocracy, people at all levels can earn the right to participate, the freedom and confidence to challenge, influence, innovate, decide and lead. Skill level, not only loyalty and status, count the most. As such there is a serious (but friendly competition) for power. And because everybody can succeed, one’s position in the hierarchy has no protection from another’s abilities or good ideas.

A meritocracy develops confident and independent leaders with many different skills and styles. This new leadership style is born of the idea that people of lesser status may know more about something than you do. We can therefore expect a healthy level of creative confrontation; the kind that keeps people sharp and inventive.

In a meritocracy, people’s greatest reward is seeing his or her ideas implemented. That’s often a more important compliment than money. It is important also to praise the achievements of others publicly, since this will send a message to the slackers and the timid in the various organisations.