Continued From Page 2How and When to Use the Manager's Universe MapBecause your relationships in business are always changing, you'll want to use the Manager's Universe mapping system periodically to monitor the health of your network. You may also want to use it for specific purposes. It's a vital tool when you
- Feel lost, overwhelmed, frustrated, or confused by the conflicting demands of your job
- Are engaged in strategic planning, budget forecasting, or beginning an important new project
- Are impacted by major external change, such as a company reorganization, merger, or acquisition
- Are dealing with one or more new stakeholders, such as a new boss or a new set of direct reports
- Are entering a new role, as when you've been promoted, made a lateral shift, or jumped to a new company
In all of these circumstances, the Manager's Universe map can be a powerful way to organize your thinking about the network of relationships that affects your work. It can help you zero in on the connections that are most important (and avoid wasting energy on those that are less important), identify the most troubled relationships (and help you plan ways to improve them), and keep you from losing sight of relationships that are important but easy to take for granted. An hour spent mapping and analyzing your personal universe can give you a clearer perspective about your job and an increased sense of mastery over its disparate elements.
The same mapping strategy can also be adapted to the broader purpose of career strategy and life planning. For this purpose, you would create a map that includes the main stakeholders with influence over your life as a whole, not simply your success in your current position.
For example, suppose Joe is considering a new job assignment within his company, which will involve moving from California to the East Coast of the U.S. The network of key stakeholders for this decisionmaking process might include
- Joe's wife (who would have to leave her own California-based job if Joe is to pursue his dream)
- Joe's kids, ages ten and twelve (whose lifestyle and schooling would be affected by Joe's career change)
- Colleagues within the company (with whom Joe may continue to work after the move, and whose help will be crucial to a successful transition)
- Joe's business mentor, Ron (whose advice and wisdom Joe prizes)
Before making any final decision about the proposed career change, Joe will want to think about each of these relationships. Does he know how each stakeholder would react to the move? What degree of support (or resistance) can he expect from each one? Has he invested time to make sure that each stakeholder knows about his dream, understands its pros and cons, and can offer meaningful help, advice, or guidance?
Using the Manager's Universe as a Communications ToolUseful as the Manager's Universe map can be for individual planning and strategizing, sharing it with colleagues at work can be even more powerful. It's consistent with the transparency that I believe in and will allow you to get a deeper and broader perspective on the world in which you move.
One person with whom you can share the map is your boss. Draw up your universe as how you best understand it and then show it to your boss, explaining its purpose and meaning. Ask him or her to react and comment. You may be surprised by what you hear. For example, your boss may strongly disagree with some of the people or groups you've listed as stakeholders: "Why are you wasting time worrying about Kathy in IT? Her department's not an issue for you. If I were you, I'd be more concerned about Rajid in Finance. He controls the purse strings, and I hear he's looking for ways to cut our budget next year."
