Life in the Middle
UNDER PRESSURE FROMSENIOR MANAGEMENT TO DO MORE WITH LESS, MIDDLE MANAGERS ARE FACED WITH THE DIFFICULT TASK OF REDUCING COSTS WHILE IMPROVING PROCESSES AND ENHANCING SERVICE. mEANWHILE, AS ORGANIZATIONS FLATTEN THEIR HEIRCHIES, MANY MIDDLE MANAGERS ARE ASSUMING MORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND SUPERVISING LARGER STAFFS WITH INCREASINGLY DIVERSE NEEDS AND ABILITIES. WITH DEMANDS FROM PEOPLE BOTH ABOVE AND BELOW THEM IN THE ORGANIZATION, MIDDLE MANAGERS WOULD SEEM TO BE IN A TOUGH PLACE. YET MANY HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES ARE FINDING SUCCESS AND CAREER FULFILLMENT AS MIDDLE MANAGERS IN TODAYS HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT. WHAT IT TAKES The core skills required for middle managers, such as good communication, project management, and financial management skills, have not changed much in the past few years, says Michael E. ... " For example, written and verbal communication skills have always been important, but as organizations integrate and middle managers responsibilities broaden, those skills become absolutely crucial. "Middle managers today, especially in healthcare, are providing a wide range of information to a broad range of audiences-employees at all levels, physicians, nurses, patients, members, the community," says James W. ... " In addition, middle managers today are not just expected to understand a budget, they need to be able to analyze one. "With the healthcare environment the way it is, middle managers need to be able to look at a budget with a more critical eye," says Carolyn C. ... " People skills are also becoming all the more vital for todays middle manager. "In the past, a middle manager could sometimes get by simply by doing their own work well, but thats not possible now," Roberts says.