No Bullsh!t Leadership Truth Doesn't Travel Up: Trust but verify
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Jan 20, 2026 Explore the timeless strategy of Management By Walking Around, revealing how face-to-face leadership enhances team motivation and clarity. Discover the Hawthorne effect's impact on performance and the dangers of seagull managers swooping in without understanding. Learn Toyota's 'go and see' approach and why unannounced visits yield honest insights. Martin offers seven practical keys to effectively implement this strategy, emphasizing trust-building through casual conversations and the importance of reliable follow-ups. Tune in for a fresh perspective on leadership!
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Don't Be A Seagull Manager
- Avoid being a 'seagull manager' who swoops in, meddles, and leaves.
- Don't make promises or solve problems on the spot that undermine local leaders.
Dilution And Sanitisation Effects
- Two organisational realities distort information: dilution going down and sanitisation coming up.
- Walkarounds let leaders calibrate formal reporting against first‑hand information.
Visit Unannounced
- Make walkarounds unpredictable and unannounced to avoid staged performance.
- Surprise visits reveal the real day-to-day conditions, not polished presentations.
