Almost all of us start from the beginning, from the lowliest of the low and even underneath the hierarchy, and then we slowly climb to reach the top. One of our volunteers in IAM Group Ltd. is from Yokohama, Japan which has a wide variety of businesses and entrepreneurs. He shares a story of his climb to the mid management while he also explains what his current position really mean.

What is middle management?

Middle Management, top-level management’s link to its lower subordinates, plays a crucial part in the organization. This level is composed of managers who are responsible for implementing company strategy in the most efficient way and creating the most effective working environment. They may adjust and interpret the initial plan in order to reach target goals. In changes such as downsizing, outsourcing, and delayering, or in order to flatten the organization and empower employees to be innovative, and reduce costs, middle management may be reduced.

How does it function?

Our friend tells us that he always has the opportunity to report valuable information and suggestions from inside the organization. They channel communication within the company, as they pass major decisions of executives and main goals to lower levels of employees. This contributes to better coordination between workers and makes the company more united.

In the technical aspect, middle management is in charge of facilitating any changes needed in an organization and creates an effective working environment and ways of doing things better. He administers day-to-day routine and monitors performance, and makes sure everything is done in compliance with the organization’s needs.

Competencies in Middle Management

Being part of middle management allows one to make two critical investments. Here in IAM Group Limited, we face the same critical issues and different approaches to them. The first is signature – how one acquires and builds knowledge and rare and valuable competencies. Each has its own style and may be effective for some but not for others. The concept of management is subject to one’s interpretation. How it is carried out and handled is how leadership and management is understood.

The second is in developing new areas of proficiency, or moving into adjacencies, throughout working life.

The following competencies are critical in order to become an effective middle manager:

1. Leadership – the most important competency that requires many skills. A middle manager must know how to make sense with things and is persuasive. He must be able to motivate, influence and guide his members, and become a role model for them and demonstrate the quality and the level of work contribution necessary for a certain organization. He must have a desire for continuous self-development and learning.

1. Decision-making – ability to quickly solve conflicts, make decisions under pressure and takes responsibility for the outcome.

1. Creativity and visioning – He should have a clear vision of the possible challenges the team may face and strategize through it with the ability to overcome roadblocks, see the opportunities that lie ahead.

1. Performance Management – this includes managing his own and his subordinates’ performances by setting clear and measurable objectives and providing coaching. A middle manager must also be skilled in presenting, persuading, and influencing people.

Challenges in Middle Management

Based on a survey conducted by Harvard Business Review back in November 2014, employees belonging to this level may encounter the following challenges:

1. Diversity is unrecognized
2. Organization is perceived ineffective and inefficient
3. Overwork
4. Unaddressed issues
5. No value or appreciation
6. Unfair treatment
7. Lack of meaning and purpose
8. No career/promotion opportunities
9. Poor leadership

4 Rule Plan on How to Be Productive

I've been in the ever circling vortex of self-doubt, frustration, and loathing. It's no good so to speak. If I spend all this time typing this out to you and you don't let it be a little tinder for your fire, well, you're just letting us both down. And you don't HAVE to do that. You don't HAVE to do anything. But you get to choose. Here’s a simple 4-rule plan to stay productive in life:

Rule 1. There are no more zero days. What's a zero day? A zero day is when you don't do a single thing towards whatever dream or goal or want or whatever that you got going on. No more zeros. I'm not saying you got to bust an essay out everyday, that's not the point. The point I'm trying to make is that you have to make yourself, promise yourself, that the new SYSTEM you live in is a NON-ZERO system. Didn’t do anything all day and it's 11:58 PM? Write one sentence, do one pushup, read one page of that chapter. One. Because one is non-zero. When you're in the super vortex of being bummed your pattern of behavior is keeping the vortex going, that's what you're used to. Turning into productivity ultimate master of the universe doesn't happen from the vortex. It happens from a massive string of CONSISTENT NON ZEROS. That's rule number one. Do not forget.

Rule 2. Be grateful to the 3 YOU'S. Yes, there are three you's. There's the past you, the present you, and the future you. If you want to love someone and have someone love you back, you have got to learn to love yourself, and the 3 you's are the key. Be GRATEFUL to the past you for the positive things you've done. And do favors for the future you like you would for your best bro. Feeling down today? Stop a second, think of a good decision you made yesterday. Salad and tuna instead of Big Mac? THANK YOU YOUNGER ME. Was yesterday a non-zero day because you wrote 200 words (hey, that's all you could muster)? THANK YOU YOUNGER ME. Saved up some coin over time to buy that sweet thing you wanted? THANK YOU. Second part of the 3 me's is you got to do your future self a favor, just like you would for your best friend (no best friend? You do now. You got 2. It's future and past you). Tired and can't get off Facebook/videogames/Internet?  Forget present self, this one's for future me, I'm going to rock out some push-ups. I'm doing this one for future me. Alarm clock goes off and bed is too comfy? Stay away for a moment, present self, this one's for my best friend, the future me. I'm up and going for a 5 km run (or 25 meter run, it's gotta be non-zero). MAKE SURE YOU THANK YOUR OLD SELF for rocking out at the end of every single thing.  That makes your life better. The cycle of doing something for someone else (future you) and thanking someone for the good in your life (past you) is key to building gratitude and productivity. Do not doubt yourself. Over time you should spread the gratitude to others who help you on your path.

Rule 3. Forgive yourself. Maybe you got all the know-how, money, ability, strength and talent to do whatever is you want to do. But let’s say you still didn't do it. Now you're giving yourself a hard time for not doing what you need to, to be who you want to. Heads up champion, being disappointed in yourself causes you to be less productive. Tried your best to have a non-zero day yesterday and it failed? So what? I forgive you previous self. I forgive you. But today? Today is a non-zero masterpiece to the best of my ability for future self. This one's for you future homes. Forgiveness, use it. I forgive you. Say it out loud.

Rule 4. Exercise and books. That's it. Very standard advice but when you exercise daily, you actually get smarter. When you exercise, you get high from endorphins. When you exercise, you clear your mind. When you exercise, you are doing your future self a huge favor. Exercise is a leg on a three legged stool. As for books, almost everything we've all ever thought of, or felt, or gone through, or wanted, or wanted to know how to do, or whatever, has been figured out by someone else. Get some books to read. You know what else you could do? Read 7 habits of highly successful people. Read "emotional intelligence". Read "From good to great". Read “thinking fast and slow”. Read books that will help you understand. Read the bodyweight fitness forums and incorporate it into your workouts. Reading is the warp whistle from Super Mario 3 – It gets you to the next level that much faster.

That’s about it. There’s so much more when it comes to how to turn non-zero days into hugely non-zero days, but that’s not your mission right now. Your mission is non-zero and forgiveness and favors. You got a report deadline in the next 24 hours? Just focus, do remember the rules and do what you can within the next 24 hours.

I have joined IAM Group Limited Singapore to outperform some of my co-workers in terms of productivity. My workplace connects with people with as far as Yokohama, Japan and the Southeast Asia. Some of them even know IAM Group Ltd, but people from Yokohama Japan are so talented and such. I devised these 4 rules so I can keep up to my game. Remember, if you do things right for yourself, everything else should follow through.@http://iamgroup-limited.com/

Due to economic breakdown, our company was one of the unfortunate ones badly affected. They had to down size their people because they had to cutback on expenses. Important positions were soon vacated because their professional fees cannot be met. And the employees had to be multi-tasking to keep up with the demands of our remaining clients. Soon, because of managerial problems and lack of communication, the employees in our company refused to work and go on strike.

I was tasked to mediate between:

1. The management
2. The employees

Certain issues had to be addressed, and the both sides took a second chance.

Feeling lucky that I still had a job, and still had the chance to give my family a bright future, I had to accept my new responsibility. At my age, where employment could be difficult, I had no choice but to do everything within my reach and even beyond, to make our department functional and effective.

I was tasked to be the department head. Although I knew it was not structured perfectly, I had to make sure my office-mates were willing to follow the plan.  I explained that the changes made by the management were necessary for the department and company to achieve the goals and objectives.  I told them that they had chosen the right people, and had expectations from them.

Because of the drastic changes in our company we had to train the employees, got them the needed materials, and created a good working environment, but still had to find more ways to keep them motivated.  I needed a strong and happy team in place or else it would all fall apart.

By making my office-mates feel like a true team, I decided to let them work as a team.  I had to find ways that inspired teamwork.  They knew that by working as a team, they would not be micro-managed.  I let them be involved in making decisions and really listened to their suggestions and ideas, truth to the saying, “Two heads are better than one”.

I also made it a priority to always acknowledge exceptional work done and in a timely fashion. By saying “thank you”, when deadlines are met, made them feel important.  I made sure that everyone fully understood that if the goals were achieved, they would be rewarded like small gifts of gratitude.

I would always look for ways to help them grow, and be promoted for those who are exceptional. Basically, I had to show that I cared about them as people.  I got to know them personally and supported them 100%.  I am aware, however, that it only takes one bad apple to spoil the lot, so whenever I feel there is a conflict, I deal with it immediately before it affects the group or the company.

I was able to build a solid, unified team with the same goals in mind.  They wanted to work hard because they knew they would be recognized and praised for a job well done.  The harder they worked, the more I would show my appreciation.  The skills they obtained were truly recognized, and even upper management came by to talk to the team about their success.  Our department was not only physically and logically in place, but now with a motivated team who was happy to follow the processes and procedures, I have created together with the management.

With these experiences I have learned that employees work better when they are happy and feel they are part of a team to reach a common goal.  It gives them a purpose and they will feel like an important part of the company. It takes hardwork, patience and a heart for us to have a strong team.  Team who respects management skills and sees you as a leader who cares.  I am thankful that our clients lasted for decades.  It is with a positive spirit that bundles us together.  We are lucky that our upper management believes that with a positive goal in life, and our love, support, and care with each other that our business flourish for many decades.  In the field, never strike co-workers. Always put one’s shoe with co-workers.  Love and care with one another.  In the end – once future is assured that kindness with co-workers.  So much blessings will arrive in one’s life.  Selfishness may attain greatness in a short period of time. But for sure – that greatness while sacrificing co-workers equal opportunity will only be just temporary.   In time, it will just be taken away.

I came to read the sharing of life’s management experiences in IAM Group Ltd Japan Yokohama Singapore to BK Thailand.  Interesting Stories about success and those who failed to receive blessings at work.  One thing that is good with our company is we never let each other down.  We learn and improve each other because we believe that if other’s can do it with the right team, each goal is attainable – we can.  Nobody gets left behind.  Some would put others down, but not in our team.

IAM Group Ltd Japan Yokohama Singapore to BK Thailand is a self-funded, non-profit association of Middle Managers worldwide working in business. IAM Group Limited Ltd are committed to helping you and all our contributors and members worldwide for your experiences at work.

They are not Linked In or trying to be.  They provide provoking ideas to fuel the fire of desire of MIDDLE MANAGERS- to expand your professional skills, better manage your organization, and enhance your career, hence, be able to control your own career trajectory to claim that greasy pole of success.

They aims for Excellence and will help you on how to thrive in these times of accelerating technological progress and economic growth with the reality of anemic job growth.

http://iamgroup-limited.com/

IAM Group Limited Ltd Japan Yokohama welcomes all Middle Managers who wants to express their stories  that encompasses the professional and personal rewards, gripes and  frustrations anonymously.

What makes our group unique is that we welcome contributors of MIDDLE MANAGERS  who can express their gripes and frustrations anonymously or on the positive side offer advice on claiming that greasy pole to the top.