Ron’s Blog for Middle Leaders

Ron Minatrea - a Middle Leader

Welcome to Middle Leaders - a site intended for Middle Managers in business, churches, or other organizations.  In fact, it’s for any leader with multiple masters…sometimes leaving them feeling caught in the middle.   It’s for all who feel pressure to meet the demands or expectations of others – especially when those demands conflict with their own priorities and goals – or the goals of their team.  It’s for those that need help navigating the constant barrage of change, organizational politics, or who see their work/life balance not only out of balance – but often out of their control.

Pointing Toward Balance

Posted on February 21, 2012 by

Fifteen or twenty years ago I was enjoying a period of tremendous success in my career.  At the time we were living about a thousand miles from where I was raised, and away from most of my family.  I had been promoted to the staff of a prominent national organization within my company – giving me the opportunity to work alongside some of our most seasoned senior leaders.

From iStockphoto.com

One of those leaders was a man named Jim.  He was about my Dad’s age and nearing the end of his career.  While he and I had become peers – I was clearly the mouse among elephants on this staff.

One day, following a staff meeting and headed into a three-day weekend, the subject of my Dad somehow came up in casual conversation.  I mentioned that I hadn’t seen my folks in over a year.  Jim’s expression suddenly changed – he got very quiet and stepped closer right in front of me.  Looking me straight in the eye he started tapping on my chest with his finger and bluntly said, “That is wrong – fix it – now!” 

Caught off guard, I really didn’t know what to say or how to respond.  I chose to say nothing at first, but just listened as Jim went on to inquire about my wife and kids.  I remember getting specific instructions to never miss one of my son’s ballgames.  These instructions were spoken with that same unmistakably direct – no-nonsense tone.

Eventually his tone softened as our talk continued.  Still Jim went of his way to make sure I knew it was possible to live a more balanced life without jeopardizing my career.  In his view, long term success was not possible without balance.

While I admit his ideas about work/life balance were not new, his message – perhaps because of the way he delivered it – was a clear wake-up call.  I had been aware of the need for balance and had the best of intentions.  But, Jim’s message brought home that I had allowed travel, busyness, and the demands of work to consume way too much of me for way too long.

Thankfully, I followed Jim’s advice – and with respectable regularity began seeing my folks two or three times a year.  My wife and I started going on mini-retreats about once a quarter.  And while my son played sports all through school – if I missed a game it was a rare exception – not the rule.

So what about you?  I’m guessing the need for a healthy work/life balance is not news to you either.  I suspect you even have the best of intentions.  But how are you doing?  If you were able to talk with Jim – how would it go?

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Telling the Emperor He Has No Clothes

Posted on February 19, 2012 by

Sooner or later it happens in the life of every Middle Leader – the time when you’re at least tempted to Tell the Emperor He Has No Clothes.  When you believe with all with your heart that your boss – or someone (maybe everyone) in the ranks above you has lost touch, been deceived, or just plain doesn’t get it. 

So how do we handle these sometimes maddening, but all too delicate situations?

Start with an Eye Exam

It’s easy to believe that someone else is wrong or out of touch when we don’t have all the facts, or don’t fully see the big picture.  Rushing in to tell the Emperor he’s naked when he’s fully clothed could end in disaster, be career limiting, or at least politically damaging.  So be sure you are seeing things clearly and completely before pointing out what others are missing.

One of my old bosses used to say that 95% of the time when armed with the same information everyone in the room will come to the same conclusion.  The trouble is we’re seldom all armed with the same information.  Do your best to get everyone on the same page – ask questions, collect and share relevant data, try to understand the objectives, motives and pressures of others.  Be open – try to see things from their point of view.

Take a Robe

If your ambition is to expose that some thing or someone is wrong, you’re likely to meet with strong resistance.  With this attitude – even if you’re right – you’re wrong.  Instead, when you go to talk with the Emperor, take suggestions, alternatives, and solutions to make things better rather than just pointing out what is wrong.

Strong relationships – built on mutual trust and respect, are key to working through tough organizational disconnects, challenges, and miscommunication.  These relationships aren’t developed in a day – but over time – and they are strengthened when we face and weather adversity together.  Don’t destroy them by your attitude and the way you approach the Emperor, but rather leverage them – and see this as a chance to make them even stronger.

Pick the Right Time and Place 

In the fairy tale – the innocence of a little boy in the crowd allowed him to see and say out loud what everyone was thinking – the Emperor had no clothes on.  Soon the Emperor could hear them all whispering what the boy had said – yet even though he felt what they were saying was true, his pride kept him boldly marching on – even naked!

What if the boy had approached the Emperor in private? Would the Emperor have reacted differently?  Of course, we’ll really never know.  But we do know in today’s world, a private rather than public conversation or confrontation helps diffuse pride or other ego driven agendas – both for yourself as well as your boss.  So be sensitive to when, where and how you confront your superiors with the things that are troubling you.  Allow them to listen and respond – without an audience – and remove any temptation you might have for grandstanding.

Carry a Mirror

While you look up at your superiors and sometimes wonder what they were thinking.  As a Middle Leader, someone is looking up to you – to them YOU are the Emperor.  And, quite possibly they see you as the one that is out of touch or just doesn’t get it.

Are you communicating your message openly & effectively?  Are you listening equally as well?  Are you approachable and creating an environment that encourages dialogue and a healthy exchange of ideas?  Check the mirror often – work to understand just what others are seeing in and from you.

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Leave a comment below to tell about your experiences with your The Emperor – or as the Emperor.

 

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Points on the Board Before Halftime

Posted on January 23, 2012 by

I admit I’m not much of an NFL fan these days, but I have kept up enough to know the Giants will be playing the Patriots in this year’s Super Bowl. I’m also aware of two recent sets of plays that demonstrate very contrasting strategies.

The first came a week ago when the Giants were playing the Packers in Green Bay. A big time defensive play gave the Giants the ball with 41 seconds left in the first half. It appeared they wanted to work themselves into field goal range, but only managed to get to the 37 yard line with 6 seconds left. But in that six seconds they managed to shock the Packers, the Packer fans – and perhaps even themselves with a classic “Hail Mary” pass that was caught in the end zone for a touchdown as time expired. The underdog Giants had stolen all momentum and went on to win – keeping their season alive.

The second notable series occurred when the New England Patriots got the ball with more than 50 seconds left in the first half of their AFC title game against the Baltimore Ravens. Sitting on a 3 point lead, the Patriots “take a knee” and choose to let time expire – with no attempt to score at all.

Why is that? What makes one team go for broke and the other just head for the locker room? Had the Patriots been trailing instead of leading would they have chosen to go for it? Why did one of the league’s most prolific offenses decide to do nothing but sit on the ball and let the clock run out?

The answer is simple. The Patriots decided the probability that something bad would happen – and the downside if it did, was greater than the odds of something good happening and the upside of that.

As much as I hate to accept the mentality there are indeed times when we should count the cost, honestly evaluate the facts, and understand the time is not right, or the cost is too high to move forward…or that we would be better to wait and live to fight another day.
But all too often it’s easy to let our fears, perfectionism, procrastination, lack of focus, clarity or commitment color that evaluation – to convince us something bad might happen. So we decide to sit on the ball and do nothing when the situation really calls for us to act – to act now – and put some points on the board before halftime.

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