Editing intermediation article

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Jeremy Wall 2020-05-23 12:16:42 -04:00
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A significant portion of my job these days is to act as an intermediator. I A significant portion of my job these days is to act as an intermediator. I
stand between upper management and the teams that report to me. I mediate the stand between upper management and the teams that report to me. I mediate the
interaction between them. My role is one of translator, shield, and interaction between them. My role is one of translator, shield, and
understander in chief. I am the primary way that my direct reports understand understand-er in chief. I am the primary way that my direct reports understand
the goals, needs, and requirements of the company they work for. I'm also the the goals, needs, and requirements of the company they work for. I'm also the
way that the company understands the mood, needs, and capabilities of the way that the company understands the mood, needs, and capabilities of the
people they have employed. This is, to say the least, the most exhausting and yet people they have employed. This is, to say the least, the most exhausting and yet
@ -30,11 +30,12 @@ If you work somewhere for long enough eventually you'll see a negative
narrative start to form. A policy change will strike people the wrong way. A narrative start to form. A policy change will strike people the wrong way. A
technology choice will be made that others disagree with. The triggering event technology choice will be made that others disagree with. The triggering event
could be anything. But the effect will be somewhat predictable. Confusion, could be anything. But the effect will be somewhat predictable. Confusion,
feelings of neglect, anger, resignation, all might start manifesting in your feeling they are ignored, anger, resentment, all might start manifesting in
team. If you let them stay there then they'll fester and before long you'll your team. If you let those feelings stay there then they'll fester and before
have a revolt on your hands. As a manager you can be reactive to these events long you'll have a team of negative attitudes on your hands. As a manager you
and find yourself playing catch up continually or you can be proactive and can be reactive to these events and find yourself playing catch up continually
manage the impact that these decisions will have on your team. or you can be proactive and manage the impact that these decisions will have on
your team.
## Planned Change ## Planned Change
@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ with clear reasons behind them.
My next task is to understand the impact this will have on my team. What My next task is to understand the impact this will have on my team. What
questions are they likely to have? Will there be undesirable impacts that questions are they likely to have? Will there be undesirable impacts that
management may be unaware of? If you can anticipate those questions or management may be unaware of? If you can anticipate those questions or
potential setbacks you will go a long way to easing everyones minds. It's potential setbacks you will go a long way to easing everyone's minds. It's
crucial that management knows you understand the impacts these changes will crucial that management knows you understand the impacts these changes will
have on the team and can communicate them back to them. It's also crucial that have on the team and can communicate them back to them. It's also crucial that
your team knows you are already proactively managing that impact on them. If your team knows you are already proactively managing that impact on them. If
@ -70,23 +71,23 @@ Just because I've done my homework first and tried to anticipate all the
impacts doesn't mean there isn't something I missed or was unaware of. If I impacts doesn't mean there isn't something I missed or was unaware of. If I
learn anything new from the team then I commit to communicate it to leadership. learn anything new from the team then I commit to communicate it to leadership.
Both the team and the company leadership needs to know that I am an effective Both the team and the company leadership needs to know that I am an effective
translator and they can trust me to accurately represent them to each other. translator, and they can trust me to accurately represent them to each other.
## Sudden change ## Sudden change
Sometimes change comes suddenly. Sometimes the environment for the company Sometimes change comes suddenly. Sometimes the environment for the company
changes so fast no one sees it coming until it's right on top of them. changes so fast no one sees it coming until it's right on top of them.
Sometimes communication lines break down in a place outside of my control. Maybe communication lines break down in a place outside my control.
Sometimes I just drop the ball. When that happens first I have to accept it and Perhaps I just drop the ball. When that happens first I have to accept it and
then I need to follow the same playbook but on an accelerated timeline. I might then I need to follow the same playbook but on an accelerated timeline. I might
have to tell the team that I'm working to understand the change same as them have to tell the team that I'm working to understand the change same as them
and then commit to follow up with them when I learn more. If I've done my job and then commit to follow up with them when I learn more. If I've done my job
before this then I'll have earned enough trust for myself and the company that before this then I'll have earned enough trust for myself and the company that
they'll wait for that feedback and withold judgement. The company will be able they'll wait for that feedback and withhold judgement. The company will be able
to trust me to manage the teams response to unexpected change as well which to trust me to manage the team's response to unexpected change as well which
reduces stress for everyone involved. reduces stress for everyone involved.
## Change is necessary # Change is necessary
Change is a necessary part of growth at a company. It doesn't have to be Change is a necessary part of growth at a company. It doesn't have to be
negative but if the change isn't properly managed and communicated then by negative but if the change isn't properly managed and communicated then by