Comments on: Middle Management Is Approaching A New Day http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2007/08/middle-management-is-approaching-a-new-day/ Customers, Marketing, Work, and Thoughts on a Creative Life Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:29:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Chris Bailey http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2007/08/middle-management-is-approaching-a-new-day/comment-page-1/#comment-569 Chris Bailey Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:15:18 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2007/08/21/middle-management-is-approaching-a-new-day/#comment-569 Absolutely! Well put, Peter. In many ways, I've found that middle managers actually have *more* room to innovate and experiment than executives do. I particularly like what you say about identifying a new (or perhaps unconsidered) management practice...and then study it. Often, it's that last part that stymies the doers who want to implement immediately (I've fallen into the group a few times). There's an art of management mastery that requires patience and some determination. Lot's of learning here. Thanks for adding to the dialogue. Absolutely! Well put, Peter. In many ways, I’ve found that middle managers actually have *more* room to innovate and experiment than executives do. I particularly like what you say about identifying a new (or perhaps unconsidered) management practice…and then study it. Often, it’s that last part that stymies the doers who want to implement immediately (I’ve fallen into the group a few times). There’s an art of management mastery that requires patience and some determination.

Lot’s of learning here. Thanks for adding to the dialogue.

]]> By: Peter Turner http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2007/08/middle-management-is-approaching-a-new-day/comment-page-1/#comment-568 Peter Turner Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:58:00 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2007/08/21/middle-management-is-approaching-a-new-day/#comment-568 So let's focus on change. Product development and customer experience management are commonly considered critical, and yet although not a current part of traditional association management practices classic PD methods (like say the stage-gate NPD process) can offer a plethora of opportunities for middle managers to engage customers on existing and new product or service development. I would urge middle manager to seize the day. Identify an unrecognized management practice that you can get passionate about and study it. Who does it the best? What are they achieving by using it? How can you incorporate it into your association? Middle managers are key to the success of companies or associations. Dont wait until someone instructs you to explore something you can adopt. Take the initiative on your own and do it. If management doesnt appreciate your efforts, find a new place to practice it. There are other orgs who possess the culture, teamwork, collaborative practices and initiative to practice these ideas. So let’s focus on change. Product development and customer experience management are commonly considered critical, and yet although not a current part of traditional association management practices classic PD methods (like say the stage-gate NPD process) can offer a plethora of opportunities for middle managers to engage customers on existing and new product or service development.

I would urge middle manager to seize the day. Identify an unrecognized management practice that you can get passionate about and study it. Who does it the best? What are they achieving by using it? How can you incorporate it into your association?

Middle managers are key to the success of companies or associations. Dont wait until someone instructs you to explore something you can adopt. Take the initiative on your own and do it.

If management doesnt appreciate your efforts, find a new place to practice it. There are other orgs who possess the culture, teamwork, collaborative practices and initiative to practice these ideas.

]]> By: Blogger Buzz on Associations, Conversations and Managing People « opensource.association http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2007/08/middle-management-is-approaching-a-new-day/comment-page-1/#comment-567 Blogger Buzz on Associations, Conversations and Managing People « opensource.association Sat, 01 Sep 2007 14:28:25 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2007/08/21/middle-management-is-approaching-a-new-day/#comment-567 [...] Chris Bailey at Workplay offers a great illustration of why managing intangible assets is an overlooked management science. He shares his pain in his post “middle management is approaching a new day.” Here is an excerpt: “Once upon a time, I was a middle manager. It was something I aspired to. I saw it as a way to advance as a professional and grow as a leader. I also believed it was a way to help others connect the work they did to meaning and purpose. Then, somewhere along the way, I got lost. I got tired of mediating petty squabbles. I became frustrated by the idiotic political turf wars. I grew weary of being squeezed from top-side executives and board and bottom-side staff - not to mention from the members and customers at the sides. My passion was extinguished and I was happy to find new work here in Texas where I didn’t have to worry about managing anyone.” More people need to be reading Rosbeth Kanter’s book on organizational confidence. [...] [...] Chris Bailey at Workplay offers a great illustration of why managing intangible assets is an overlooked management science. He shares his pain in his post “middle management is approaching a new day.” Here is an excerpt: “Once upon a time, I was a middle manager. It was something I aspired to. I saw it as a way to advance as a professional and grow as a leader. I also believed it was a way to help others connect the work they did to meaning and purpose. Then, somewhere along the way, I got lost. I got tired of mediating petty squabbles. I became frustrated by the idiotic political turf wars. I grew weary of being squeezed from top-side executives and board and bottom-side staff – not to mention from the members and customers at the sides. My passion was extinguished and I was happy to find new work here in Texas where I didn’t have to worry about managing anyone.” More people need to be reading Rosbeth Kanter’s book on organizational confidence. [...]

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