How often do you think
people assume something won’t work, someone won’t be interested in what they
have to say, or they can’t get what they need, without ever asking anyone?
I think it happens a lot.
It could be finding a new
job, getting a promotion, negotiating a good price on something, or asking a
friend for a favor.
I’ve worked in
organizations that were very traditional command and control structures to the
point that they protected access to their executives.
I remember once many years
ago when a Director in accounting was amazed that I had met our CEO only two
weeks after he had started.
I was amazed that he was
amazed!
I had a problem. It was rare in that it required the input of
the “top executive”, so I emailed him and asked if he had a few minutes.
He did and my issue was
resolved.
I ultimately ended up
working for that CEO directly and had some of the most amazing experiences of
my career.
All I did was ask.
If you’ve unsuccessfully
attempted to get what you need and you haven’t asked the right people for
support, you don’t have the right to complain about it.
Go ask!
(…and, of course, be
willing to act)
Frank –
I think that in traditional command and control organizations based on a solid and inflexible hierarchy there is definitely that “concrete layer”.
Luckily for business (and those involved with it at any level) those organizations are starting to evolve.
I agree that technology (internet, email, web 2.0) seems to be helping diminish the distance between organizational layers.
But your caution is well taken – those technologies are no substitute for face-to-face communication. They do, however, extend the reach of everyone inside an organization to (potentially)anyone else. The other neat point is that those technologies also help extend OUTSIDE of the organization.
Thanks for some great insights!
Ann
A blogger companion in Germany often tells about the “concrete layer” that prevents communication between the upper management and the normal employees. Very often middle management interprets the messages / signs from top management or normal employees according to their own conception.
In my opinion those “fancy web 2.0 things” may offer the possibility to break-through this “concrete layer” but they cannot replace face-to-face communication.
Frank
Steve –
I couldn’t agree more.
There’s no substitute for direct communication with a wide variety of people.
Without it any executive only hears what their direct reports think is noteworthy.
Sometimes the message has been filtered so many times by that point that it’s meaningless or completely inaccurate.
So – no one’s talking to them – and those that do often give them a very narrow and watered down view!
Sounds like a tough job 🙂
Ann
Ann,
You know, I kind of chuckled when you mentioned the CEO thing. I’ve not met a CEO yet who didn’t want to respond to, or talk about, something that was important. Yet there is that whole hierarchical set of buffers and assumptions that keep people from “asking the person with the answer.”
My experience is that many execs are wondering: “Why isn’t anyone talking with me?”
Nice to “see” you, too!
Just yesterday I forwarded a copy of a presentation to my new boss and asking him for his feedback. It’s really important for me so I’m quite curious…
Frank –
I couldn’t agree more.
I didn’t want to give anyone the impression that one must always ask before they act. That is not true at all!
But sometimes when we hit roadblocks (in thoughts or actions) we give up before we’ve exhausted all the possibilities, sought counsel, or attempted to get support – and that’s just wrong!!!
Nice to “see” you!
Ann
A German proverb tells “It doesn’t hurt to ask”.
If you don’t ask you won’t get an answer so you really better ask before you complain 🙂