Do you often find yourself grappling with the constraints of hierarchy, feeling out of touch with what’s really happening, spinning your wheels and going nowhere? You’re not alone.
As a function, we frequently find ourselves positioned lower down the hierarchy which, in highly hierarchical organisations, limits our involvement in critical strategic conversations. This tends to pigeonhole us in a ‘tactical box’, lowering our ability to innovate and be the strategic enablers and shapers of organisational reputation and success..
CONSEQUENCES?
We’re predominantly confined to reactive work leading to, job dissatisfaction, anxiety, and stress, which can ultimately lead to departure from our roles. That said, in the face of these challenges, there’s an opportunity for resilience and growth.
4 RESILIENCE STRATEGIES TO BREAK HIERARCHY
Here’s how you can break the chains of hierarchy within your organisation
1. INNOVATIVE RESILIENCE
• Champion innovation in Marketing & Comms that will positively impact the organisation as a means to elevate your profile and value
• Keep up with emerging trends, put your hand up for pan-organisation initiatives focusing on exploring new ideas– this will position you in a different light ‘outside’ the hierarchy.
2. ADAPTABILITY RESILIENCE
• Being able to adapt and flex within the confines of hierarchy is critical especially when you’re lower down within it.
• Having a growth mindset is handy. Instead of viewing hierarchy as a ‘hurdle’, view its constraints as opportunities to seek out new challenges that test your thinking and transcend traditional boundaries. For example, join a cross-functional team focussing on a significant issue that’ll have an enterprise-wide impact (eg crises management, greater organisational efficiency through streamlining); lobby for participation in key stakeholder forums.
3. COMMUNICATION RESILIENCE
• Use what we’re great at – communicating! Ensure all your communication and thought leadership reflects your enterprise-wide thinking and commercial acumen.
• Invest time in building strong relationships with key stakeholders at all levels. It opens up communication outside the hierarchy.
• Create formal channels for communicating your thought leadership and success that have positively impacted organisational performance.
4. LEADERSHIP RESILIENCE
• Promote your leadership brand – put your hand up for opportunities that’ll show you in a different light
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that negate the role of hierarchy in the eyes of those attending. It’ll help shake off those pesky hierarchical shackles.
Within hierarchy lies the seeds of opportunity.
Use these strategies to boost your ability to turn adversity into advantage and set the course where hierarchy is not a limitation but a catalyst.
It’s your journey – travel it well with Turas.