So, you’re doing quite well at work, but have been thinking lately:
That’s where seeing the bigger picture can help.
Typically, Subject Matter Experts “SME’s” and “Line Managers” know a lot about their particular area or speciality. That’s why they are in that role. Some people are quite content to remain in that role. Others might want to add more value in their work or put it in the mind of their manager that they could be capable of more.
Of course, there are a host of ways to do this. This is not a good way: “I’ll just stay back and work even harder”. It is something of a cliché, but the trick is to work smarter, not harder.
Here are some ways that could help. They are largely based around thinking more like your manager thinks, not what is on your desk in front of you.
Line Managers and SME’s know lots of detail; lots of detail. That’s their job. That is what they have spent quite some time developing. However, typically, your manager doesn’t want to know all this detail. (By the way, trying to impress them with your deep technical knowledge will rarely help. They take that for granted.)
Your manager, and your organisation, is going down a wider highway. They are thinking about things like:
So, if you can frame some meeting responses, or emails, or reports, in more general terms it will help no end.
Telling a short story along the lines of:
Always, always, always, you are keeping it short and to the point.
This is an invaluable lesson I learnt from a great MD many years ago. Because he was the MD, he had people constantly in his ear:
But what is it you want your senior Manager to actually do?
You want them to:
So, you are coming to your Senior Manager with a specific action you want them to take.
Overall, try to elevate yourself from your tight little world and imagine you are your manager, or Team leader.
In summary, if you can align yourself to your management’s thinking and to your organisation’s broader goals, you are going to become a real asset. You can be in the wonderful position where management will start turning to you and asking what you think. You may even get a compliment on how you presented your ideas!
If you are a senior manager and know of people in your organisation who could do with some help with the above, contact Stoke Consulting to find out how we can help via team@stokeconsulting.com.au
Rod Wallace
Stoke Consulting
Rod is a Consultant with Stoke Consulting and has been with the organisation for more than nine years. Before that, he has more than 30 years in a variety of Executive Management roles companies ranging from global multinationals to mid-sized Australian organisations.