Completed Staff Work is a management concept that involves presenting a plan to a decision-maker and receiving a thumbs-up approval without further questions or concerns. It's about providing a well-thought-out recommendation that can be staked on one's professional reputation. This approach flattens hierarchy, empowers teams with local autonomy, and encourages collaboration between team members and managers. Completed Staff Work is not just about presenting a plan, but also about doing the work in a way that has been thought about deeply enough that stakeholders should be able to accept it as a good decision. It's an iterative process that involves talking with decision-makers as you're putting together your plan and asking for their help when needed. The goal is to get people to the point where they can make decisions independently, without needing constant approval from someone else. By adopting Completed Staff Work, teams can develop a habit of solving problems in a more organizationally aware way, leading to better results and a flatter hierarchy.