"Middle managers play essential, if unheralded, roles in an organization. If senior leaders set aspirations and strategy, middle managers translate the strategy into concrete business plans, communicate with employees, and manage the business – and most of the people within the business," according to the Boston Consulting Group. Consulting professor Behnam Tabrizi from Stanford University put it more strongly: Over the past 20 years, no group has endured greater pain and humiliation within organizations ...
Read moreIf you want a high performing organization, you need to engage and inspire your middle managers. They are the key to employee engagement, according to research conducted for the UK Chartered Management Institute. This is even more important now during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. But middle managers, those whose team is on the frontline, need good lines of communication from top management in order to engage their own staff. Unfortunately, good contact ...
Read moreOne of the crucial tests of a communicator is winning the approval of senior management for a recommended strategy, whether it relates to communication or more general management issues. How to make a top strategy presentation A bullet proof way to present a strategy to top management and the executive committee is to work to the formula below. James Lukaszewski, one of the most experienced US PR consultants says it is proven in use. ...
Read more'Managing upwards' is the systematic process of working with your boss to obtain the best possible results for you, your boss and your organization. When you manage upwards, you show leadership on your own part. Most people know the importance of managing their relationships with the people who report to them, but you would be surprised at the number of people who forget to manage their most important working relationship – the one with ...
Read moreWhen we get a promotion at work, life becomes more stimulating, challenging and complicated. One of the key aspects of our new role is how to handle the vital relationships with the people who were our peers and team mates. This difficult change can be managed successfully with some thought about the transition. Here are some points to work on: 1. Establish a balance between authority and familiarity Suddenly your relationship with your peers ...
Read moreMany PR managers find it difficult to understand management issues beyond the level of communication concerns. However, to be fully accepted by top management, you need to think like a manager, understand management issues from management’s perspective, talk like a manager (not use PR jargon) and to figuratively put yourself in the shoes of operational managers in looking at their problems. Above all, you are proactive and assertive, prepared to insist that PR should ...
Read moreWhy is it important for all managers to communicate well with their team members? It's because "the manager accounts for at least 70% of the variance in employee engagement scores across business units," according to the 'State of the American Manager report' 2017, by Gallup Inc., the world's biggest organizational analytics and advisory firm. Gallup consultants believe "Engagement should be a manager's primary role responsibility." [Keep in mind there are many different definitions of ...
Read moreA successful job application creates euphoria for the winning applicant. But how best to handle the unsuccessful candidates? There are always many more of them than successful candidates. The attitude of external applicants can affect your organization's reputation. The attitude of internal candidates can affect their productivity and the work culture. What to do? A failed job application generates strong feelings of disappointment, and can be a painful blow to a person’s self ...
Read moreWhat you need to be a good leader Leadership is the process of directing and influencing the tasks of group members. Leadership must involve other people – staff or followers. It is the act of working with and through others to achieve objectives. Self-confidence is not the real secret of leadership. The more essential ingredient is confidence in other people. Leadership involves motivating others to produce their finest efforts and channeling those efforts in ...
Read moreWe all know when there is a need to confront others, but many of us are afraid to do it. We may not have done it well in the past or we don’t like head-to-head confrontations. It is a disturbing thing to do. It takes us out of our comfort zone. It is always an emotional experience. However, if we don’t act, the problem could magnify; it could put our job in jeopardy; or ...
Read moreGuest post by Haley Lyles [During these uncertain times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have lost their employment
Guest post By Caitlin Goodwin, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. It’s critical to support your mental health and improve your resilience
"Middle managers play essential, if unheralded, roles in an organization. If senior leaders set aspirations and strategy, middle managers translate
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