While many people see large corporations as monolithic, hierarchical, dictatorial and brutal, many of us who have worked in organizations have experienced another side.

Anthropologist Margaret Mead once said “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

In my experience, Mead’s assessment is just as true of organizations as it is of other kinds of communities or societies.

Years ago, I did a bit of blogging about the democratic side of corporate life.  I admit that some of the logic was a stretch, countering the comment that “people don’t have a vote” with a reply “that the vote takes place every morning when you choose to walk in the door.”

But looking at corporate life from Mead’s perspective,  it is easier to demonstrate that people at all levels can have significant influence on their organizations, particularly…