As companies continue to change and restructure, some leaders may find themselves getting “layered” with a new senior manager inserted above them in the hierarchy. In her November 6 “Calling the Game” video, Bobbie LaPorte shares some positive steps you can take if you find yourself in this situation.
Hi, this is Bobbie LaPorte, back with another week of “Calling the Game,” where I share my own experience and insights while giving you valuable tools you can use to call your own game…and plan the best moves for you and your team.
I’ve been hearing from clients that change and restructuring continues in their organizations. No surprise, as many companies are using the economic slowdown as a time to reassess their market positions and goals and consequently the effectiveness of the supporting structure in their orgs.
And for many people, this often means that “layering” is happening – moving one step lower in the hierarchy – or that is how some people see it. It can also be seen as placing people where they can best contribute and be supported.
But many people don’t see it that way. They see it as a loss of visibility to more senior people in the org, which they feel means less opportunity for development and career advancement and a discounting of their “value” in the org.
Positional authority in most companies is still seen as an indication of worth and power. All of this is real to the affected people, and you can’t dismiss it. But it’s the reality and will likely continue to be as companies seek more efficiencies.
How to Manage Being Layered
So, if you have been “layered,” here are some things to consider.
Try not to react and take this personally as a sign of your value in the org. Let your new manager know you fully support them, offer to be a resource, and consider what you can learn from them. Their success is your success. They may be in a better position to actively support you in your career development than your previous manager. Then, take time to objectively evaluate how this might affect you/your role in the future.
The key mindset shift here is to see the possibilities this change presents and not view it as a loss, defaulting to defeat and resignation, which can be the normal response.
It’s no use to sit back and lick your wounds.
Taking a more optimistic view of the possibilities this presents can create a positive path forward and set you up for opportunities in this constantly changing and shifting environment.
OK, that’s it for this week’s “Calling the Game.” Hope this helps you gear up for a great week and navigate any curveballs that may come your way!