A few weeks ago, I found myself on a WestJet flight from Calgary to Toronto with their CEO serving the coffee and tea. I posted a picture on my social channels and watched as Ed Sims got showered with accolades for his hands-on leadership approach. Management by walking around is one of the oldest concepts in leadership and yet, in the age of technology, one that fewer and fewer leaders do as part of a regular practice. With increased amounts of uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity in today’s work world, it’s critical that – as leaders – we stay connected to what’s happening in the frontlines and directly with our customers or risk losing our ability to stay agile. Spending time in the trenches is a strategic activity, not a make-work one.
How often do you practice management by walking around?
