In a business organization, the chain of command refers to levels of authority in the company from the top position, such as a CEO or business owner, down to workers on the front line. Companies ...

In an organizational structure, "chain of command" refers to a company's hierarchy of reporting relationships – from the bottom to the top of an organization, who must answer to whom.

When team members sidestep established processes and the chain of command, it’s more than an inconvenience—it can erode trust, disrupt communication, and harm your credibility as a leader.