Us against them?
Here is something about succession planning. A new manager spends a week at his new office with the manager he is replacing. On the last day, the departing manager tells him, “I have left three numbered envelopes in the desk drawer. Open an envelope if you encounter a crisis you can’t solve.”
Three months down the road there is major drama in the office and the manager feels very threatened by it all. He remembers the parting words of his predecessor and opens the first envelope. The message inside says, “Blame your predecessor.” He does this and gets off the hook.
About half a year later, the company is experiencing a dip in sales, combined with serious product problems. The manager quickly opens the second envelope. The message read, “Reorganize!” He starts to reorganize and the company quickly rebounds.
Three months later, at his next crisis, he opens the third envelope. The message inside says. “Prepare three envelopes.”
Now, how is that for a succession plan? The question in this funny anecdote we need to ask ourselves is, why is the newly hired manager dependent on the envelopes and does not make it a habit to communicate as well as coordinate with his or her superiors?
Here is the real picture in many business organizations, educational institutions or even in non-profits. Very little meaningful communication take place because of an attitude issue that could have been easily remedied had the manager been trained in leadership skills.
Here is a very important advice for managers. Do not distance yourself from your leaders, this is a huge temptation as there are those who do this to win favor and to be popular with the team as they create bonding at the victim level but this would not work. Doing this would eventually damage the morale and the confidence of the team.
Wanting to get the trust of the team is shallow compared to placing the team in a position of not trusting the organization. There are 3 possible results that would happen in playing the “victim game.”
1. That the manager or the team leader is weak, a whiner and powerless in the organization. 2. That this business organization cannot be trusted. 3. We may be working for an organization but are actually working under people who do not trust us.
This results to an unpleasant and negative kind of bonding, but it also leads to deep trust problems and further disrespect for the integrity of the organization. As managers people are watching you all the time. 1. A roll of the eyes at the mention of a particular officer’s name.
2. Badmouthing another leader from another department. 3. “I don’t understand why they are doing this…” 4. “They did not even consult me because they know I would not agree to it…”
5. “They don’t understand what you guys are going through…”
6. The repeated use of the word “they” and contrasting it to the word “us.”
7. “Had I not stepped in then things would have been more difficult for us…”
8. And then of course the most famous line, “Why do these jerks have the audacity to bypass us…”
There are managers who behave this way and they stand as obstructions resisting change and hindering company progress thinking that they are heroes to their team while they oppose upper management all the time. These are not bad people they just lack leadership training and understanding.
The professional manager and the true leader however has the courage to represent upper management and rally support to align with company goals and achieve objectives. This true leader does not use the word “they” but uses the word “we.” They channel the energy and focus of the team towards improving work and creating a positive culture of encouragement in the company.
Leadership in the organization is not about “us against them” You’re not in a basketball court. It is always about working together and making things better. And that’s what makes the leader a true leader.
(Mark your calendar, as Francis Kong runs his highly acclaimed Level Up Leadership seminar-workshop on January 1617, 2018 at SEDA Hotel, BGC. For registration and inquiries contact April at +63928-559-1798 or register online at www. levelupleadership.ph)