Considering the state of the economy and the unrelenting news about high unemployment I’ve been quite surprised to encounter a number of people who are either quitting their jobs or in process of finding a new position before they quit. What is even more interesting about this situation is the consistency of reasons given for leaving and the theme that has emerged – managing for the status quo. In the midst of a bad economy when most businesses have their backs up against the wall, many mid and high level managers are not looking for innovative solutions to improve their business – they are clinging to the status quo trying to get ahead on the backs of their employees and at the expense of the business.

The theme sounds like this:
• Senior VP X is focused solely on a promotion to EVP but refuses to acknowledge innovative opportunities presented to him that could actually facilitate his chances of that promotion for fear of rocking the boat
• Manager Y rejects every suggestion brought to her – she seems beaten down and gets frustrated when recommendations for improvement are brought forth
• It’s obvious to the whole team what needs to be done but no one above them wants to hear it – collaboration and engagement are resented and rejected out of hand
• Staff is continually told they need to work smarter but management won’t entertain any proposals for ways to do so – which is interspersed with ‘just be glad you’ve got a job’ and threats of downsizing and demands to increase productivity and customer satisfaction
• ‘Seat warmers’ are ignored while other staff members are expected to put in more hours to make up for their lack of productivity
• Management just doesn’t get it – it’s like they want the organization/business to fail

When you’re managing for the status quo rather than results you are locked in a dysfunctional perspective of your business as well as of your role and responsibilities. That perspective is so skewed and so narrow that it only sees what’s in it for you and is colored with beliefs like: same problems, different day; this is the way we’ve always done it; nothing will ever really change so it pays to go with the flow and not rock the boat – and, if I can just keep my head down (and my people quiet) long enough to live through this I will be rewarded. Internal politics rule the day and ruins the business.

A terrific quote attributed to the late, great Satchel Paige sums this up pretty well – “It’s not what you don’t know that hurts you, it what you think that just ain’t so.”

These managers are destroying morale, killing innovative ideas in their cribs and just plain wearing people down. This results in lower productivity, poor customer service and decreasing profits. Your best and brightest – mid-level managers and highly performing staff members – are polishing their resumes and using vacation days to interview elsewhere. Soon you’ll be left with the people who are there only because they are too afraid to leave the known or too comfy warming that seat everyday because it’s all they have to do to collect a paycheck.

This is a wake-up call. If a copy of this article lands on your desk, take note. It’s time for a shift in perspective – to resuscitate your confidence, passion, character and integrity. It’s time to do the job you were hired to do – manage. Leadership means you have a responsibility for making your business successful. Engage and empower your staff – listen to them, seek out best solutions, look for innovative ideas, communicate and motivate and support your people, manage for results not the status quo.