Does a young wolf always create conflict? For example, it is possible to avoid conflict and form a lot of influence by playing kingmaker. You do not need to sabotage others of similar technical abilities to you by attacking them directly, you can instead heavily exert yourself in producing massive value to their competitors. This is more stable as it's without conflict. It is the silent death to those that compete with you individually, and a way of finding allies.
Is that a young wolf, a social climber or a sponsor?
That's the way that things work in many political organizations like party committees.If you have the power to create kings, you have the power to destroy a king.
The key to any of this "flat organization" stuff is to keep the organization small enough that you can either keep out nasty personalities, or prevent them from burrowing into the org.
Is that a young wolf, a social climber or a sponsor?