Years ago, people were told the key to being a successful manager was to “walk around”. The idea was managers should get out of their offices, wander around, chat with employees, and make their presence known. In fact, the idea was so popular it was given the catchy title of “management by walking around” and nicknamed MBWA.
Fast forward to today’s business environment. We have virtual teams, telecommuting and flextime. Work involves new technologies. Recently, I was having breakfast with one of my former bosses. She said something that really stuck with me. “I spend all my time in my office. I’m so busy working on spreadsheets. There’s no time to walk around anymore.”
Spreadsheets and reports are important. Businesses aren’t going to ditch them. But somehow, managers have to find time to connect with their teams. If they don’t, that disconnect will impact the bottom-line. Those kinds of disconnects manifest themselves in poor communications, sacrifices in quality, decreased morale and sloppy customer service.
How can managers “wander around” in today’s competitive work environment?
Take the walk. Stepping away from your desk can be a good thing. It’s exercise. Use some of those moments when you need to take a break to visit employees.
Wander around virtually. Really can’t get away? Is your team thousands of miles away? Check in using email or the social collaboration tools your company provides.
There’s a reason Management by Walking Around became so popular. It works. Managers building relationships with their employees is essential for business. Now, I will admit, technology innovation may have changed the “walking around” concept. But the idea is still the same.
Companies shouldn’t put managers in the position where they have to choose between reports and employees. Managers should be able to do both. And managers shouldn’t use reports as an excuse not to spend time with their employees. It’s time to rediscover the lost art of walking around.
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Jonathan Segal says
Excellent advice. The personal can get lost in the digital. Thanks for the reminder. Hope people follow it
Geo Mihalache says
I completely agree and I have one idea that I have personally applied and it walks – “move your desk” in the middle of the people. I work as HR manager and I decided to spend 2 weeks with each team in the company. I asked them to give me a spare desk and I have just spent my entire two weeks there working close to them, getting to know them better, listening to their issues. It worked like magic. Members from other teams came to me to “book me” for the next period of time. It was a success. I found out a lot more about them and their problems like this and they came to trust HR even more. So, just do it…
Stephen Ross says
Loved the post. I think most people agree that technology has impacted us positively, but it is slowly distancing ourselves from others. When managers interact with their employees face to face, that provides the human touch necessary to maintain office relations and improve productivity.
Dan Javinsky says
Agreed! Connecting with employees helps to create a positive and productive culture. A positive morale is beneficial to all entities…employees, customers, owners, investors and the community.
Sharlyn Lauby says
Thanks for the comments!
Annabel Kaye says
I take skype coffee breaks with my team when we just chew things over – no agenda – just as we would over a coffee break if we were in the same place.
I am a great believer in the KoffeeKlatch – like management by walking around, but without having to move so far!
Ian Pratt says
I think it comes down to task prioritisation, often managers prioritize politics over there people, and because employee engagement is not a critical KPI for most managers there is no need to prioritize their people
Simon Maddern says
Make the time, if you are going to talk the talk then you have to walk the walk, visible leadership provides employees with confidence and direction and increases morale. It also importantly helps to remove any assumptions by employees that you really don’t know whats going on etc etc.
Betty McHale says
This is an excellent article on managing people. I’ve preach this all the time in my management training. I especially liked the comment where the HR Professional moved her desk to a different work group for two weeks. Great tip for Managers. Thanks.
Sree says
Like the posting. Agree with the changing workforce we need to adapt and improvise.