Tag: management

September 26, 2023

Long time horizons – A hidden stressor?

Have your unfinished projects become an unacknowledged stressor in your life?

Senior level managers and executives often work on projects and change efforts that span many months, if not years. Even routine tasks such as designing new products, distribution channels, or work processes may have time horizons that stretch so far into the future those leading these efforts may not be able to see over the horizon to know or feel when completion is at hand.

There are no easy answers in terms of shortening time horizons, but being aware that long time horizons are a form of stress is important. One must acknowledge that promotions, transfers, and changes in employment deprive us of reaching a gratifying end to the creative and adventurous projects that we begin.

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April 4, 2021

Structural conflict?

The vertical and horizontal nature of bureaucratic and hierarchical organizations creates “structure conflict”. Structural conflict happens when the features of the organization itself (e.g. organizational chart, human resource policies, and standard operating procedures) generate spaces for destructive leadership styles and problematic interpersonal dynamics including power differentials, exclusion and discrimination, and aggression to unfold. Structural conflict is inevitable, but it does not have to become a source of dysfunction or poor performance. When managers and leaders are aware of when and where structural conflict happens they can intervene to reduce its negative effects.