Dual Hierarchy

Lean Management may be blamed for it or may be interdependence but double hierarchy can be extremely dangerous for employees.

it is never easy to have two bosses at the same time with different expectations. your job can be a mess so would your professional and personal life be.

Those involved in organizational structuring or restructuring need to understand this. while crafting an organogram it seems to easy few dotted lines to an individual employees making them reportable to yet another boss but at the end of this, such dotted lines turn into nightmares.

Double Reporting creates more organizational politics and work place stress. The culture of openness starts diminishing. Employees become extra cautious in their communications, actions and even initiatives. Resultantly they start hiding from both the bosses. clarity is not only important in job roles and job descriptions it is also important with regards to reporting lines.

In organizations where functional reporting lines are different from administrative reporting lines things can become even more intricate. I recall ten years ago I was working for a Direct Reduction Iron Plant at their plant and i was told that i have to report to the Project Site General Manager as well as yet another functional general manager in the head office. Both were at daggers drawn to each other, however they never indulged in any open row or conflict. However, i very correctly remember i had to draw lot of balance to survive in the system. Both had a desire to get first hand information on every issue and a concern. I had to make sure that i called both simultaneously one after the other and never let them feel if i was giving more preference to one.

Double Reporting lines also generate culture of Covert Lobbying which is even more harmful to organizations. dual reporting is often experienced by employees who are working in some remote locations and have a functional lead at the head office. such employees have to be extra tacticious to deal with both bosses intelligently otherwise their stress level will continue to rise and fall. winning two bosses is an art unknown to many. its like winning two wives at the same time which i am sure, we all understand is next to impossible.

its not difficult to win many people at one time but when they are appointed as your boss things become different. As an employee if ever you are stuck up into a situation like this you must do following:

1. Try to keep only official and professional communication and relation with both without exhibiting more liking for one
2. before preparing any report or action try to seek advice from both but make sure you do not get opposite or conflicting advice from the two. the best way would be to take along options, proactively and intelligently discuss to seek advice acceptable to the other.
3. Beware of the politicians around you and never use a middle man to communicate to your bosses.
4. Right from the start point try to get maximum clarity on job descriptions from HR, both Bosses and also other seniors in the organization. Remember for selling yourself, your idea or your product you have to have more buy ins first.
5. Avoid discussing conduct of one boss with the other