I often find myself in the classic middle manager limbo. I have all the responsibility but no authority to make people do the job. It means I am often trying to please those above me as well as those below. Consequently my days sometimes feel slightly out of control as they are filled with meetings or taken up with sudden crises. How can I manage my position more effectively? PO, Abu Dhabi
Middle managers typically spin many plates, balancing the weight of delivering results with the unfortunate reality of often being unable to control how they get there. You find yourself frantically influencing and lobbying for support upwards, downwards and horizontally, which can leave you feeling like filling in a sandwich, trying not to get squashed against a mass of multiple demands.
Yet even with this challenging backdrop, middle managers are the engine room of the modern organisation. Relationships between middle managers and their direct reports can make or break an employee’s motivation, productivity and satisfaction. Unfortunately, although a core part of organisations their needs are often overlooked in favour of senior leaders, potential employees or new graduates. Consequently those middle managers who are successful in moving up to the next rung of the career ladder tend to be the ones who are willing to speak up for themselves and for change.
Being pulled in several directions at once will obviously make you feel disorientated, but embracing your position more effectively is dependent upon regaining the control you have lost. I have long felt that the contribution of “the middle” can be overlooked, and that managers like you need to step back into the limelight and truly believe in their influence. As a hard-working, competent individual you are sure to have respect and authority – you just don’t see it yet.
The first step is to control the speed at which you operate. If you move at the pace of those around you, you will constantly be chasing your tail and getting nowhere. If your boss wants to meet, you drop everything, and if there is a crisis you are the first to dive in. Your strategy has to be to name your own pace and know there has to be some balance. If people continually push you to fast-forward, you need to be strong enough to fight that pressure. Ask yourself if you have the personal capacity to meet a request, or the time to consider the best approach to take. Being reactive currently stretches you to meet the expectations of those above and below you. Could being proactive allow you to exceed them?
Taking back control as a manager not only involves making time to consider new approaches, but assertively managing the expectations of those around you. Delegate successfully to your team by increasing clarity and communication, and plan your priorities with them at least a day in advance. Give people responsibility, enough time to do a good job, and be clear on the purpose of task.
However, your team are not the only ones who need management. Meetings are important, but if you have other priorities you need to keep your focus. Say no to the meetings you don’t need to be at, or condense catch-ups into 10-minute slots as you grab your coffee. Manage the expectations of your seniors and be clear about how much time they can expect your team to give them. In the nicest possible way, toughen up and be firm.
To be a successful manager you need to show willingness to make tough decisions that are good for you and the organisation, and that may not always please those around you. Two things can help you here; prioritise what is really important for you, and identify a senior mentor who can champion and coach you based on their own experience of being “stuck in the middle” in the past.
Doctor's prescription:
The more you squish a sandwich, the less likely you are to want to eat it. You may be wedged between demands from both sides, but there are things you can do to help make life easier. Get your team working to support you, and get into the habit of carving out a regular time slot each day to deal with emerging issues that would otherwise put you under pressure. Try out a new motto and “do less better” – your organisation may thank you in the long run.
Alex Davda is a business psychologist and consultant at Ashridge Business School, based in the Middle East. Email him at business@thenational.ae for advice on any work issues.
business@thenational.ae
Follow The National's Business section on Twitter
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
MATCH INFO
What: Brazil v South Korea
When: Tonight, 5.30pm
Where: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
The biog
Name: Sari Al Zubaidi
Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati
Age: 42
Marital status: single
Favourite drink: drip coffee V60
Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude
Results
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
Specs
Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential)
On sale: Now
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Malin Cilic (CRO) v Benoit Paire (FRA) [8]
Not before 4pm:
Dan Evans (GBR) v Fabio Fogini (ITA) [4]
Not before 7pm:
Pablo Carreno Busta (SPA) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [2]
Roberto Bautista Agut (SPA) [5] v Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
Court One
Starting at 2pm
Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) v Dennis Novak (AUT)
Joao Sousa (POR) v Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
Not before 5pm:
Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) [1] v Marin Cilic v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikoloz Basilashvili v Ricardas Berankis (LTU)
match info
Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')
Liverpool 0
Results
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$300,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Emblem Storm, Oisin Murphy (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 $350,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Wildman Jack, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $400,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $600,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Matterhorn, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.30pm: Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 $350,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Loxley, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
