You can often hear that workers from Generation Y dislike traditional bosses. Allegedly they consider themselves competent enough to work unsupervised and want to function autonomously. This, however, would mean companies that are not start-ups changing significantly their organisational structure or at least somewhat relaxing the arrangement of their hierarchy. Otherwise they can abandon efforts to attract young talent.
With the development of automated and intelligent machines, more and more tasks of white-collar workers are being eliminated. This could to some extent speed up the degradation of middle management positions. However, according to the knowledge.insead.edu website, middle managers will not disappear – only their role will evolve.
The new middle management
Members of Generation Y are confident and well aware of their self-worth. At the same time, however, this is the first generation growing up with instant images, short text messages and emails permanently available and thus they seek emotional feedback. The possibility of being promoted sometime in the future is suddenly less appealing to them than immediate recognition. Social media have taught them to be hungry for an immediate emotional paycheck. And that is where middle management steps in.
Middle managers can provide this immediate feedback. They can praise as well as reproach. In short, emotions are becoming more important. Middle managers may also convey visions and ideas of top executives far more convincingly and effectively, precisely because they are closer to young professionals and in frequent contact with them. Middle managers often focus only on operational performance as that is what got them into their position; however, such managers will slowly become history.
Middle managers can support strategic change
Middle management is sometimes considered to be that part of a company which is making maximum efforts to maintain the status quo. That, however, is not the case as middle management can help to promote implementation of any strategic change or transformation. However, top managers are often unaware of this.
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