Directors and department heads have perspective from day-to-day operations and proximity to the work, which helps them understand factors and assumptions behind problems. They can also spot emerging opportunities early. This combination makes them inclined to propose solutions that are both thorough and doable. Senior leaders often do not welcome bottom-up change, so mid-level ideas may not receive full attention. Research by Sue Ashford indicates executives reject mid-level proposals because they do not immediately perceive relevance to organizational performance. Ashford teaches how to sell ideas up the chain of command so leaders can connect the proposal to performance outcomes.
"Michigan Ross professor Sue Ashford says the overarching reason executives pass on an idea from a mid-level manager is that they don't immediately perceive its relevance to organizational performance. She teaches MBA and exec ed students how to sell their ideas up the chain of command, and she's here to share wisdom from her couple of decades of research into that skill."
#middle-management #business-transformation #leadership #organizational-performance #bottom-up-innovation
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