I was taught since childhood that
the GODS were thought to have complete vision into the future. They saw
everything to come, right down to the intricate details. Human beings on the
other hand were seen as victims of fate, trapped in the moment and their emotions,
unable to see beyond immediate dangers. Those heroes such as Odysseus who were able to look beyond the present and plan several steps ahead seems to defy
fate, to approximate GODS in their ability to determine the future. The
comparison is still valid. Those among
us who think farther ahead and patiently bring their plans to fruition seems to
have GODLIKE power. Because most people are too imprisoned in the moment to plan
with this kind of foresight, the ability to ignore immediate dangers and
pleasures translates into power. It is power of being able to able to overcome
the natural human tendency to react to things as they happen and instead to
train oneself to step back, imagining the larger things taking shape beyond ones
immediate vision. The most ordinary
cause of peoples mistake is their being too much frightened at the present
danger, and not enough thought process which would have avoided this danger.
The dangers that are remote, that looms in the distance – if we can see them as
they take shape, how many mistakes we avoid. How many plans we would instantly
abort if we realized we were avoiding small dangers only to step into larger
one. So much of power is not what you do but what you do not do- the rash and foolish
action that you refrain from before they get you into trouble. Will this have
unintended consequences ? Will I stir up new enemies ? Will someone take
advantage of my labors ? unhappy endings are much more common than happy
endings – Do not be swayed by the happy endings in your mind. When you see
several steps ahead and plan your moves all the way to the end you no longer
will be tempted by emotion or by desire to improvise. Your clarity will rid you
of the anxiety and vagueness that are the primary reasons why so many fail to conclude their actions
successfully. You see the ending and you tolerate no deviation. So what we conclude….. We conclude that “ The
ending is everything. Plan all the way to it, taking into account all the
possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse your
hard work and give glory to hard work to someone else. By planning to the end
you will not be overwhelmed by the circumstances and you will know when to
stop. Gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead…….
The reason I have given the small
description of thinking ahead as it is one of the most important
characteristics of successful leader. Successful leaders not only think ahead
but all their strategies are laid on planning and accordingly they give
direction to the organization. A top
down approach to managing strategy and strategic changes sees middle managers
as implementers of strategy. Their role is to put into effect the directions established by top management
by making sure that resources are allocated and controlled appropriately,
monitoring performance and behavior of staff and if necessary explaining
strategy to those reporting to them. Those who take such approach often tend to
view middle managers not so much as the facilitators of the strategy but as
blockages to its success. Indeed, this is sometimes seen as one reason for reducing
the numbers and layers of management, so as to speed up communication between
top management and organizational members and to reduce potential blockages and
filters. In context of managing strategic change it is important to emphasize
five important roles they play ;-
1.
The first is the systematic role of
implementation and control.
2.
The second is the “translators” of strategy when
it is established by senior management. Top management may set down a strategic
direction but how it is made sense of in specific contexts may intentionally or
not be left to middle managers. If misinterpretation of that intended strategy
is to be avoided, it is therefore vital that middle managers understand and
feel an ownership to it.
3.
Similarly, middle managers are likely to be
involved in the reinterpretation and adjustment of strategic responses as
events unfold.
4.
They are therefore crucial bridge between top management
and member of the organization at lower levels.
5.
They are also in the position to be advisors to
more senior management on what are likely to be the organizational blockages
and requirements for change.
Middle managers may therefore contribute
substantially either to galvanizing commitment to strategy and the change
process or to blocking it. Such involvement could help to achieve positive role
of commitment. The involvement of middle management in strategy development,
the planning of and implementation of strategic change programmes and feedback
on strategic change can therefore be very important. Also one of the most
important aspects in all this is this hiring of middle managers. Since they are
the backbone of the company it is very crucial and critical to hire the best of
brains because if you hire best of brains you are definitely progressing
towards right path and rest other things will automatically fall in place. Hence
we can conclude that role of middle managers is very vital in the growth of an organization
Ciao !!
No comments:
Post a Comment