Managing the Matrix

A comprehensive guide to excelling in a complex matrix organization Debra was not in a good mood as she entered Johanns office for their third meeting. One of her colleagues had just been promoted and, although the guy who got it was good, she didnt think he was any better than her. Well, except at one thing, he was always playing politics - sucking up to the more senior guys and volunteering to be on any committee going. Debra knew the type - went to the same school, belonged to the same club - she didnt have a hope against the kind of connections he had so she might as well give up. It seemed doing a good job just wasnt enough around here. Debra and Johann work in an environment with multiple and complex reporting lines in other words, a matrix. Theres room to slip between the cracks if a person wants to take advantage of confusion over who is managing performance; or if they cant make the necessary transition to self-management. Communication can be difficult even when there is an apparently shared language. Read how Johann and Debra work together to identify the skills needed to succeed in a matrix, and how using Emotional Intelligence (EI) can develop specific behaviours you can incorporate in your daily job. The result will help reduce stress and increase your chances of success. Dawn Metcalfe, Managing Director of PDS, based in Dubai, uses her experience as a coach and trainer to give us a behind the curtain look at how mentoring can help an individual develop the skills they need to survive and thrive in todays complex work environments.