Practical Ideas For Becoming a Better Middle Manager
“Middle managers are like the middle child of an organization; often neglected by senior managers and blamed by their reports. However, they’re still expected to be as charming as the youngest and simultaneously as responsible as the oldest. We end up with middle child syndrome, enshrouded in conflict, wanting more of a say, and not sure how they fit in.”
-Mary Galloway, Faculty member of the Jack Welch Management Institute
In this week’s Asking For a Friend I interview, Scott Mautz author of Leading From the Middle. about the challenging role of being a middle manager.
I think you will find the discussion of the 21 roles of a middle manager particularly interesting.
Here are a few of my favorites.
Translator:
A core role of the middle manager is to receive the vision and strategies from above and ensure everyone down (and often across) understands that direction.
The key here is to know that you’re not just an explainer, you’re an expander. Always add your perspective to upper management directives and help employees understand how their work specifically fits into the broader mission. Give a chance for employees to react to the direction and express concerns (knowing that resistance is often just a cover for wanting to be heard).
We’ve written about the importance of the translator role as well, including the importance of translating up as well as down.
Accountability Czar
Fostering a sense of accountability isn’t just about holding your employees accountable. It starts with you acting like an owner and holding yourself accountable, as well as holding senior managers accountable.
Intrapreneur
This refers to taking the initiative to advance innovation, to act like an entrepreneur, within your company.
Deloitte research shows the key to doing this well is to avoid the most common intrapreneurship trap—favoring familiar ideas close in proximity to existing solutions over unfamiliar, new ideas.
Your turn.
What are the most important roles of a middle manager?
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