Manage Around - Leading Through

Well, back at it with some postings - ready for another good run of topics!

I would like to discuss the ideas of managing around people and leading through people. This may sound odd, but rather quite simple. Here's the principle - we can do one of two things with those we work with/for... work around them or lead through them. I'll unpack each one separately here...

By managing around someone, this is where someone simply doesn't fit for one reason or another in an organization and rather than making the right decision to move that person, we simply manage around them.

Leading through someone implies that we lead, that we work through the situation, and that we make the necessary changes that may be needed.

Honestly, it's easier to manage around people. We don't have to worry about disappointment, letting people go, disrupting things, etc.

But that's not what's lost - what's most likely lost is the respect of our best people. See, here's what happens. When you're best people see the weak links being "managed around" it translates as direct disrespect to them, whether they acknowledge it or not. And in so being, many times we lose our best because we don't make the hard decisions.

It all comes back to respect. The best way to respect the people who are not doing a great job might be to let them go. The best way to respect your best people is to provide them the best team possible.

Consider who you might be managing around and seek advice on how to make the necessary changes. I'm not saying they need to be let go; simply not ignored. Everyone wins if we don't mess this one up.