New Trend: Conscious Unbossing

If you haven’t heard the term before, don’t worry…

It means an aversion to management roles.

There’s a current trend happening where young professionals are avoiding middle management in exchange for roles with flexibility.

Translation: better work-life balance and autonomy.

I don’t blame them.

Yet even though Gen Z & Millennials are leading the charge, its not a generationally-exclusive desire.

Who doesn’t want more freedom and flexibility at work? 

But the bigger issue is this: who’s thinking outside of themself?

• Everyone yearns for belonging.

• To be a part of something bigger than yourself.

So how do you translate that over to an organizational mindset?

It’s embedded in startup culture (whether you accept it or not).

• Small, scrappy companies ask their people to wear multiple hats beyond their job description in the early stages.

• The reality is a startup company doesn’t “grow up” on size alone…

• There are many 100+ employee companies that still function like a startup.

Leadership and management enter the chat by creating company structure, policies and a playbook.

I’ve shared in an earlier post that when I consult for companies, usually I tackle leadership before strategy and culture.

Why?

Because it doesn’t matter what your strategy and culture is if there’s no one to lead it!

Every group needs to establish leadership.

It’s concerning to hear there’s a lack of ambition towards management because that is the catalyst for developing talent (when done right).

Without leadership decisions don’t get made, personal ownership isn’t taken and direction is fleeting.

Being a people manager is hard…but worthy of the challenge.

My plea to those who oppose trying management roles is:

How successful can a company be if you only think about what’s best for me?

You wouldn’t hire someone who is selfish, so what does that say about you?

Now I get it, not everyone is cut out to be a leader.

But caring about your employer’s wellbeing automatically makes you a team player.

Part of taking ownership is making sure your individual performance aligns with the company’s trajectory.

It’s completely normal to want more work-life balance, but when you find an organization you believe in - go all in.

That means trying challenging roles, being willing to learn new skills and showing empathy towards others (a sorely missing leadership trait).

Conscious unbossing to me means a lack of personal ownership.

You may not own stock in the company that employs you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t “act” like a part-owner.

One day if you own your own company, what types of employees will stand out to you?

My guess is leaders who care about more than themself.

I’m encouraging you to NOT be a part of this trend.

• Be an advocate for your company.

• Ask how you can do more.

• Show you’re invested in the overall success.

All companies need leaders, both current and future ones.

Be the leader you wish to promote.

God Bless,

Scott

P.S. Here’s some quick tips to make the transition from individual contributor to manager👇