Execs and the frontline

A recent article from Douglas A. Wilson published by the +Harvard Business Review Blog Network prompted me to pick up the discussion and add to it from my own previous interviews.

I'll let you read the article for yourself and include the link at the bottom but in brief Wilson talks about what execs can do to keep in touch with what's going on in "all corners of your organisation" and he goes on to list three questions that they can ask.

Clearly, spending time with frontline workers, understanding their realities and trying to make a difference should be a top priority for all leaders – TV programmes such as 'Undercover Boss' really drive the point home.

Standing among your people

And as Professor Julian Birkinshaw pointed out to me, "There are many smaller ways of getting ourselves closer to the front line, and into the mindset of the people working for us. For example, many retail bosses spend time serving behind the food counter and working the tills."

When I asked leadership expert John Adair if modern day leaders are too detached from their people, he answered that

"True leaders should be among their people, especially when it comes to sharing dangers and hardships. Otherwise a social distance develops and understanding (which literally means to stand among people) goes out of the window". 

But staying connected with fellow workers isn't just the preserve of CEOs and leaders - the same principle applies to all managers who strive to become better bosses.  And given that feedback is typically very hard to come by, that brings me to Jill Geisler's 'Million Dollar Question'.

This applies as much to C-Suite execs as it does to middle managers and is a slight variant on Wilson's first question. So, from today onwards, start asking, "Is there anything you need more of – or less of – from me?"  

I for one already have.

Read Douglas A. Wilson's HBR blog post