Many companies have created alignment within the management team by yearly corporate meetings, weekly tactical meetings and all the impromptu conversations that keep the top folks working towards the same goals. If you are this far along, congratulations! That was hard work well done!
I’m seeing this alignment break down when you get to middle management. These are folks who rose up from the front line, or were brought in because of specific expertise lacking in the company. A lot of assumptions are made that middle managers understand how to apply new directions and initiate new processes and procedures. They are supposed to know how to balance the detail necessary to achieve excellent customer service, while flawlessly developing and implementing changes that will give the company new competitive advantages.
So, if you were to watch them work, you would see the struggle they have to keep the current work humming along. When they try to focus on new projects, processes and procedures, work where they need to really think without interruption, it is not possible in their current environment.
You end up disappointed in their ability to advance despite clearly delineated expectations, action plans and time lines. They can become frustrated and stop trying to progress, thinking they just aren’t good enough.
It is an organizational set-up. Teach your middle managers to do what you have had to do. Put aside regular scheduled private work time (PWT) with no interruptions for 2-3 hours at least 2 times each week. Make it a respected part of your culture.
Teach them that there should be an agenda for each PWT session, so the most important work gets done.
If you want to make this part of your culture, hold a meeting this week and ask all of your managers from senior down to the front line to schedule their PWT and post it outside their workspace. Then honor it. Let’s see if the company becomes more nimble — moving faster than your competitors because everyone in your company is focused and aligned on strategic initiatives. Let me know how it goes.
Illustration courtesy of www.teachingchannel.org