Module 3 Managing Your Manager
Unit 3.1.4 - Situational Context

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It is important that we consider our manager’s situational context in each interaction we have with them to improve our relationship.

Our manager has their own perspective, and this perspective is influenced by their situational context in each situation in which we interact.

Our manager’s situational context could include factors such as upcoming deadlines, family concerns, schedules and meetings, pressure from their manager or meeting financial budgets – any circumstances or events that could influence their perspective when we interact with them.

To develop an understanding of our manager’s situational context, we should consider factors such as:

Do they have any deadlines due?
How busy are they?
Do they have any important events/meetings?
What were they working on immediately prior to our interaction?
How does what we are working on affect them?
Do they have any personal commitments?
Do they have any professional commitments?
Is there anything we can think of that could cause problems in this situation?
Are they dealing with any personal issues that we know about?

It is important that we are proactive and do our best to be aware of our manager’s situational context so that we can always interact with them appropriately.

Finance Department Scenario

Let’s consider the following scenario at the Shapes Factory between Zahra and Reshma in the Finance Department as an example of the importance of considering our manager’s situational context.

Zahra was just about to leave for the weekend when her manager, Reshma, comes to her office…

Fig 3-6: Situational Context

Zahra hasn’t considered Reshma’s situational context in this scenario.

In this situation, Zahra was planning on completing the finance reports in time for the production meeting on Friday, where the reports will be used to place stock orders. Reshma’s situational context, however, is that she is under pressure because she has a meeting with Pierre on Monday, in which she needs Zahra’s reports to secure the funds required for Friday’s meeting.

What could Zahra have done differently?

To avoid this negative situation with her manager, Zahra could have been more proactive and established Reshma’s situational context. Zahra could have:

taken the time to ask Reshma when the sales forecasts were required, rather than just assuming that they weren’t needed until next Friday’s meeting
made the effort to observe and understand the bigger picture – where her own work requirements fit in with Reshma and the organisation – instead of only focusing on her own perspective
observed Reshma’s working style and become more aware of her tendency to make last minute demands for work, and considered that Reshma might request the forecasts at short notice

If Zahra had established her manager’s situational context, she could have avoided the problem she is now faced with. She could have organised to have the forecasts ready earlier and adjusted her schedule accordingly.

Although Reshma could have been more proactive herself and requested the forecasts sooner, Zahra cannot change her manager, she can only change herself. Zahra could have improved the outcome of this situation by considering her manager’s situational context.

Try This: Situational Context

Reflect on your experiences with your managers and identify situations where you have not considered their situational context.
Take note of the impact this had on your relationship with them, your workplace satisfaction or your personal life.
Next time you are undertaking a task for or interacting with your manager, consider what factors could shape their situational context
Taking their situational context into account, adjust your conduct and communication accordingly.