us education

Im going to divert from the usual B-School discussion today and talk about something that happened to me at work this week

The Background

I work as part of an operations management team in a somewhat industrial facility. Although my title has the word in it, a more appropriate title would be liaison. I am essentially an intermediary between a large corporation and a local set of unions. I take the general vague will of the company and translate it into more specific work instructions for the union foremen and chiefs on a daily, weekly, and yearly basis. I also have the power to direct the labor force, hire, and fire.

All of the above would lead a person to believe that my job is important and that it is a fulfilling use of my time and intellect. The truth is that the labor force that I really understands what they are doing well. So well in fact, that my main job is to make sure they dont goof off or try to sign in for too many hours on the payroll. In other words, Im a company rep a warm body a baby sitter.

The Problem...

For more dynamic individuals the idea of being a warm body is nauseating. Even more disgusting is the micromanaging some superiors engage in to make sure we make sure everything runs OK. And what if we have an idea or an improvement, for change? t mess with what is already working..What is the result of all of this stuff? Zero engagement. Many members of the operations management team dont care how well the company does or even how on track the union guys stay as long as they dont have to hear from their manager. I find that some of my colleagues do as little as they need to do in order to avoid being bothered. Less than ideal, right?

The Turning Point...

So here is an experience I had this week that may be the fix or at least a good first step towards the fix. After expressing interest in getting more involved with the business strategy side of our operation, my bosss bosss boss calls me into his office and asks me to help him create a long term business strategy and then record it in an official document. He wants new ideas on how to find more customers, analysis on our infrastructure and equipment, and insight on how to engage the management team.

...Small gesture, right? All he did is respond to my request and suddenly I am alive at work again. I care again. I am doing the little things well because I am reminded in my research for this new special assignment of why we do them. I care how the company does because I have been tasked with making it better. I am engaged.

Too often Senior managers want to control an organization like a puppet master, and all that leads to is the creation of lifeless puppets underneath them management or not. However, when an employee is responded to and asked to own a piece of the business, the result is an engaged colleague, full of life who is intellectually and emotionally invested in the success of the company.

So, whats the take away? The take away is . For myself, and many of you, senior management is in the not too distant future. When we get there we must remember the wisdom we offer as lower management and individual contributors.

Good Night for now.

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