The New Employment Relationship: What is it?
Dr. Tim Baker
Consultant @ WINNERS-at-WORK Pty Ltd | Leadership Development, Performance Management, Change Management
The newly appointed CEO in the government agency, Samantha, identifies as her first major challenge as breaking down the boundaries between departments. She observes that the agency is organized around several “silos”—it’s a typically bureaucracy.
This is evident even at the senior management level. The most important cross-functional team—the senior management team—is disjointed and not operating as a team. Managers arrive at executive meetings with their functional “hat” on and fail to consider issues from the perspective of the overall organization. Samantha knows she has a problem and has her work cut out.
She notices the level of cooperation between departments is negligible, even non-existent, is some cases. Samantha is determined to change this. Instead of cooperation there is rivalry.
She decides to form several cross-functional project teams. One team is formed to look at improving communication across the agency, for example. Representatives are chosen by the new CEO from all six departments. Another cross-functional project team is set up to review and improve several archaic systems and processes that are not consistent across the agency.
Peter, from the marketing department, is invited by Samantha to be part of one of these project teams. He is enthusiastic about being asked to participate, recognizing the need to improve cross-functional communication throughout the organization. Peter goes to talk to the marketing manager in her office. Mary is apathetic when Peter tells her about this development.
“I wish the CEO had spoken to me first,” Mary said to Peter in response to the news. “I can’t afford to release you to attend these ‘talk fests.’ Peter, you are too valuable to the department. We’re already short-staffed. How often does she want you to attend these meetings?”
“I don’t know,” replied Peter. “She hasn’t told me yet.”
“Well, it sounds like a complete waste of time. Your primary responsibility is to my department, Peter,” said Mary. “You’re a critical person in this department, and I’ll have to speak to the CEO about this and let her know my feelings.”
Peter left Mary’s office deflated and confused. He’d thought this was a great opportunity to break down the silos in the agency and improve communication across the organization. He couldn’t understand his boss’s reaction.
What is the new employment relationship and what are the shared beliefs of employees and managers?
Join me on June 18 at 10am AEST for 30-minutes on a special broadcast (free-of-charge): The New Employment Relationship: What is it?
Dr Tim Baker is a thought leader in leadership development and performance management, best selling author, and international consultant. having consulted across 21 industries over 18 years, Tim has discovered what makes people tick. To find out more, go to WINNERS-at-WORK Pty Ltd.