Are you having trouble reading your computer monitor lately due to a mass of yellow sticky notes - with scribbled tasks for multiple bosses? Are some of those "to do" reminders finding their way onto your personal belongings, or cluttering your cell phone device? Having many bosses can take the pressure off having one really bad boss. But it can also become an exhausting nightmare of juggling overwhelming needs and work styles simultaneously. And chances are that not all of your managers are perfect angels, all the time (granted, they're all likely human).
As employees work more frequently in teams across departments; otherwise known as "matrix management," this is a growing issue for many in today's workplace. But you can mitigate "Multiple Boss Madness" by taking specific actions.
When Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth
Sometimes it seems as if the org chart is teeming with managers each vying for your time and resources, akin to squabbling siblings. And you may find yourself deploying parenting skills with what I call TOTs (a.k.a., Terrible Office Tyrants) who may unwittingly slip into toddlerhood.
Too many cooks (and bosses) can spoil the broth - due to a lack of communication and organization. As managers seek to gain power during a hopeful recovery, some may be looking to aggressively take you under their wing. Consequently, you may be at a loss as to whom to please and when.
Therein lies the opportunity for you, the employee, to stop your supervisors from tripping over each another to manage you - so that you can produce results. It's empowering, and a valued, long-term career tool.
The stories of multiple boss madness are many. A mid-manager was recently lamenting the frustrations of this problem going too far and deep, with too many bosses all wanting their deadlines met "now." Her bosses were like competing children saying, "Me first. No! Me first!"
Another employee vented about a micro-managing boss (one of five supervisors) who wanted to put his needless touch on the more junior manager's project. It would only slow things down, but was an opportunity for the ambitious micro-manager to gain visibility. "Look what I did!" he seemed to say like an attention-seeking toddler.
Signs of Multiple Boss Madness
Like Neo (Reeves) in The Matrix film, you may receive cryptic messages on your computer screen, but you're more likely to encounter boss madness up close and personally. You know when the madness has taken over when you experience these red flags:
• In-fighting among management. There's friendly competition and then there's childish undercutting. If one of your managers acts as if someone is a rival, he'll be suspicious of where your loyalty lies. Your boss may act stubborn when the other managers develop great ideas. She slows down the process - and your progress - by not complying.
• You don't know whom to please or when. Your bosses are not talking to each other, and all projects are "due yesterday." You spend more time trying to decipher what is a real priority and what isn't, and who is being genuine when you're told the project is due "immediately."
• You're unsure about handling the conflict on your own. Confusion seems to rule the day. Projects seem to have inherent conflicts of interest, and if you venture to point out the problem, you feel that you'll be accused of not being a team player.
How to Master Multiple Boss Madness
You can learn to manage the madness, set limits - and gain an invaluable skills set, as multiple bosses and matrix management are not going away any time soon. Here are a few tips to consider:
• Develop a "roles and responsibilities" chart of your own, e.g., who should be doing what, and how much. Then approach your boss and try to get buy-in. By developing clarity through these charts, you can better address the issues with all parties involved.
• Know the subtle differences...between a consultative role and a direct manager role, or functional and operational. Ensure that you're on the same page with your primary boss. If an indirect boss is stifling you, consult your primary boss for direction. Try to tap into the supervisor's best talents to help him feel part of the project at hand. Let him know you are willing to help, but diplomatically speak up when you feel you've received "adequate" support. It's okay to set limits to any micro-managing behavior if you've been given authority to do so.
• Learn how to reason one-on-one with a tough boss...who wants to be the center of attention among his peers (a.k.a. sibling rivalry in the office). Proactively open the communication channels; be friendly; try to find common ground; and ease into the subject of how important it is for you to get the job done above all. Also, ask the manager for suggestions on how you can better work together.
• Get your bosses together...by organizing a meeting with everyone, or at the very least, start by talking with your boss (or writing a proposal via e-mail), outlining the problem and solutions. Promote better organization and communication among your supervisors in your proposal overall. You may also have a captive audience at a pre-planned project session to discuss the idea of a separate "work flow" meeting.
Regain Control
Once Multiple Boss Madness morphs into Multiple Boss Mastery, thanks to your guidance and managing up skills, you'll feel a sense of control at your job, reducing stress and producing your best work. You might even clear your monitor, walls and personal belongings of sticky notes!
