What is the role of middle managers in an organizational structure? What is their responsibility and how do they contribute to an organization’s success?
Top-level managers pull from outside the organization and from their supervisors, pushing that information down to the line staff. Lower-level managers directly manage the workers and take responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the business. In between the two layers is what we call middle management.
Middle managers deal with performance, goal setting, and department-level decision-making. While they require information from the leaders above them to understand strategy, they rely equally on the information below to effectively track progress and manage unforeseen breakdowns.
As we transition back to the office or we stay virtual, has the role of middle management transformed?
It’s safe to say that while the role has not changed, the daily execution may be in a state of transition. Middle managers will be expected to play a much bigger game. If we were on a playing court, this player now has multiple positions. They have eyes both internally on the organization and externally on the market. They must communicate what they observe quickly and efficiently to their direct management. This level of communication must be precise to generate forward action; keeping things on track despite daily obstacles.
The role of the middle manager has never been as vital as it is today. They deserve recognition for the strategic steps they take while navigating this new game. The middle manager is on multiple courts a day and can make or break the match for your organization’s transformation.
