Unity of Command

 

UNITY OF COMMAND

Unity of command is one of Henri Fayol's 14 principles of management, this principle states that there must be only one superior to a subordinate. It explains how employees must work under the influence of many bosses or superiors, and then it creates a confusing situation, dilemma and disorder. Thus, according to the principle of unity of command too many heads must not boss or supervise the same amount of work being done by a worker or an employee. In other words, the work of a worker or job of an employee must always be supervised by a single head. There could be many reasons why some may think this principle is effective such as an ego clash. Issues concerning with ego clash between the bosses arises because according to Fayol every superior wants his orders to be executed by his subordinate. However, We live in a constantly changing environment—a world that seems ever changing as each moment passes—and consequently in a work environment that follows the same dynamic nature. Today’s workforce is comprised of different generations and so because of this new change that has occurred, it is our job to strategize ways to deal with working with multi-bosses.

 

1. Be Clear Who Your "Real" Boss is:

At the Alumni Association, I have more than one boss. It’s important that I know, however who my real boss is. Which person do I formally report to? Who does my final performance review? I have different managers assigning to me different projects every day, it is very important that I know who my manager's manager is at the end of the day that my tasks may be prioritize efficiently.

2. Prioritize your tasks:

At the Alumni Association, it important that i create a list of tasks needed to get done and classify them in order of importance. Also, I have to learn to recognize when a particular task is so important that I need to put multitasking on hold and give it my undivided attention.

3. Set Clear Boundaries on Your Time:

Constant interruptions are a major time waster when I am working at work. It’s difficult to focus on projects if the bosses keep coming by to ask questions or make additional requests, fortunately this is not accurate at work for me. But, however for those who are unfortunate in this manner, you would want to encourage them to use email or text for questions and requests. Block off specific time on your calendar to work on projects. Let your managers know this is sacred time and you should not be interrupted unless it is an emergency.

4. Set Clear Standards for Communication:

Get your bosses together to develop one set of standards for communication. Do you prefer to get requests through email, text, Outlook tasks, face-to-face, or some other way? What is the expectation for timely response to an email or text—for you and for them? If possible, come up with one way that works for all of your managers so you don’t have to deal with different expectations for communication. Working in a matrix environment can be fun and invigorating. I enjoy working on multiple projects with multiple managers. It gives me a greater sense of autonomy, provides access to a larger network, and allows me to grow and develop in my career.

 

Having more than one boss can have its advantages—but it needs coordination. By using these four simple strategies, you can minimize the challenges and reap the benefits of working in this stimulating environment.