As a middle manager, we are often the target of the frustration from our direct reports. This is particularly intense if you are in a manufacturing environment where you may have dozens of hourly employees as well as salaried supervisors reporting to you. In a previous post back in February 2011, I wrote about the importance of communication ( www.managersandwich.com/2011/02/karaoke-communication-dont-be-talking.html ) when relaying news, both good and bad. The ultimate squeeze play is when we are the bearers of bad news and are forced to deal with the negative response of those in our charge. In many situations, I have correctly and politely communicated to my superiors of the probable response that a new directive or program will illicit from the workforce. This is mainly an informative exchange, and not a refusal to relay the information. Sometimes I am not so polite, in fact, my responses have been recently characterized as frank, succinct, and colorful...
Most of us will spend a majority of our career in Middle Management. Instead of dreading it, embrace it for what you can glean from living in the ultimate squeeze play.