I’ve been searching for the meaning of management and specifically middle management.
Some consultant gurus believe that management, specifically functional middle management, must fundamentally change. They’re not talking about around the edges change. They mean dramatic, breakthrough change, not incremental change. Managerial jobs will require three skills, which don’t have much to do with traditional management. Managers will evolve into process owners, coaches-teachers, and leaders.
The basic purpose and value of middle management no longer seems to apply. Middle managers commonly supervised workers or managed information. Now, self-managed teams perform many tasks done by middle managers. As well, networked computer systems allow everyone to access information.
So, where’s the value of today’s middle managers? I don’t think middle managers will totally disappear. Their roles and responsibilities will fundamentally change.
Life Lesson Earned: If you’re a middle manager, pay close attention to the questions in this book. Your job is going through many changes and will continue.