Middle managers are critical to organizational health and performance, and they have the unique opportunity to influence their teams and translate top-down visions into actionable plans.
Organizations should consider separating promotions based on expertise and people management skills, and invest in clear communication between senior leadership and middle managers to empower them for lasting positive change.
Deep dives
The Importance of Middle Managers
Middle managers have often been viewed negatively as bureaucratic and hindering progress. However, McKinsey senior partner Bill Schaninger, along with Emily Field and Brian Hancock, challenge this perception in their book 'Power to the Middle.' They argue that middle managers are essential for creating an inspired and productive workplace. Middle managers have the unique opportunity to influence their teams and translate top-down visions into actionable plans. Successful middle managers empower their team members, attract high performers, and drive impact.
The Challenges Faced by Middle Managers
Middle managers often face overwhelming demands on their time, including excessive paperwork, meetings, and administrative tasks. They are frequently pulled away from their primary role as people leaders and spend more time feeding the administrative processes than developing their employees. Additionally, the 'player coach' model, where managers are expected to handle both individual responsibilities and lead a team, can be overwhelming. Many managers are promoted based on their technical expertise, but they may not have received adequate leadership development. Organizations should consider separating promotions based on expertise and people management skills.
Building a Feedback Culture and Empowering Managers
To create a feedback culture, organizations should start with the top team, who need to practice giving and receiving feedback. Managers play a vital role in providing feedback to their team members for growth and improvement. Organizations should also invest in clear communication between senior leadership and middle managers, ensuring alignment and clarity of expectations. Supporting middle managers with clarity of vision, ongoing check-ins, and unblocking obstacles is crucial for their success. Senior leaders are recognizing the importance of empowering middle managers and investing in their development to bring about lasting positive change.
Business lore is freighted with misadventures in middle management. Yet middle managers are critical to organizational health and performance, and they are only becoming more so as work continues to transform, according to the new book Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work (Harvard Business Review Press, July 2023). On this episode of The McKinsey Podcast, authors Emily Field, Bryan Hancock, and Bill Schaninger talk to global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about the costs of middle management gone awry—and about a new model for getting it right.
Theme music produced, composed, and performed by Joy Ngiaw.
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