| This article relates to the Senior /Top Level | | | | been passed down from management personnel at |
| Management competency, designed to measure | | | | our new parent company. Full-scale meetings |
| satisfaction levels regarding top-level | | | | were held, and we were instructed to create |
| management at your organization. AlphaMeasure | | | | this campaign and make it work.The idea |
| defines senior management as the team of | | | | presented a multitude of problems, but the |
| individuals at the highest level of | | | | team soldiered on. We did the best we could, |
| management who have the day-to-day | | | | all the while expressing our reservations as |
| responsibilities of operating the | | | | to how effective the finished campaign would |
| organization. For many employees, this | | | | be. Senior management completely ignored our |
| competency will target the managers occupying | | | | concerns.The campaign was a huge flop, to put |
| positions above their immediate supervisors. | | | | it mildly. We were directed to keep trying to |
| The questions included in this competency are | | | | fix it by adjusting certain elements and |
| written to investigate topics such as | | | | eliminating others. Once again, we resisted, |
| strategic leadership, corporate vision, and | | | | to no avail. The campaign died a slow, |
| corporate direction. This competency is | | | | lengthy, and very painful death.Then the |
| especially useful in understanding how much | | | | blame game began. Everyone from mid level |
| your workforce favors the present direction | | | | managers to call center reps was blamed for |
| of the organization.This short story, The | | | | the failure. Bitterness over the episode |
| Role of Character in Leadership, is part of | | | | found its way into policy changes, annual |
| AlphaMeasure's compilation, Tales From the | | | | reviews and salary increases.No wonder the |
| Corporate Frontlines. It illustrates the | | | | employees registered their disapproval of top |
| importance of having a senior management team | | | | management and its direction for the company |
| that has the character to abandon | | | | at the first available opportunity! Thinking |
| unsuccessful strategies, admit failure, and | | | | about it now, the difference in character |
| move on.Anonymous SubmissionThe Role of | | | | strength between the two management teams is |
| Character in LeadershipAfter a recent meeting | | | | obvious.The reality is that not all ideas are |
| with the Senior Management team at my | | | | perfect. Some things you try will not be |
| company, I had the chance to consider an | | | | successful no matter how hard your |
| issue that I feel is crucial to the | | | | well-meaning employees try. When my current |
| successful operation of every organization. | | | | company recently encountered a similar |
| We had just completed an employee | | | | situation to the one described above, it was |
| satisfaction survey, and the results had come | | | | handled quite differently. We let go and |
| in. Our employees have an overwhelmingly | | | | moved on to something new.One test of |
| positive view of the direction in which we, | | | | managerial wisdom is to know when to admit |
| the top-level management team, are taking the | | | | mistakes and move on, without passing the |
| company.So, what, I wondered, was the | | | | blame on to undeserving employees. I was |
| difference between my current company and the | | | | happy to be part of a senior management team |
| one I worked for five years ago? The employee | | | | that passed that test with flying colors.© |
| satisfaction survey results reminded me of | | | | 2005 AlphaMeasure, Inc. - All Rights |
| the scenario back then, only at that time, | | | | ReservedThis article may be reprinted, |
| the results were the exact opposite. | | | | provided it is published in its entirety, |
| Employees were united in disapproval of their | | | | includes the author bio information, and all |
| top-level management team.I am a new member | | | | links remain active.Measure. Report. Improve |
| of senior management, so I was interested in | | | | your organization with AlphaMeasure employee |
| understanding the reasons for the differing | | | | satisfaction surveys.Josh Greenberg is |
| results - hoping to avoid repeating that | | | | President of AlphaMeasure, Inc.AlphaMeasure |
| unhappy scenario.What does my current | | | | provides organizations of all sizes a |
| management team do differently? After some | | | | powerful web based method for measuring |
| introspection, I believe I found the | | | | employee satisfaction, determining employee |
| answer.At my former company, I was a | | | | engagement, and increasing employee |
| marketing manager. Senior management had | | | | retention.Launch your employee satisfaction |
| devised an idea for an ad campaign that had | | | | surveys with AlphaMeasure. |