Trying to steer a ship from the upper deck

Earlier this week I got a mental image of a ship with the main crew up top and the small guys in the belly of the boat, rowing. Why did I get this image when I so clearly don’t even know the shipping terminology? I dealt with a client who tried to steer a boat from the bottom, not knowing what was going on higher up in the chain of command.

Every company has a vision and mission, objectives and then the body of the company who needs to make sure these are fulfilled. Are we telling even the smallest rower where the ship is headed or why at certain times they need to row a little faster? This provides purpose to even the smallest of tasks.

I like to think our management chain applies this principle well. There is no doubt in my mind that they want me to aim with them to provide the best service possible. Do your peeps know what they’re rowing for?