Book Review: Management by Walking Around (The Every Day MBA)

One of the management strategies I saw used with great success while I was in the Air Force was called management by walking around (MBWA). However, since I’ve been in higher education, this strategy has not been used. I believe organizations not using this strategy suffer in performance. This strategy has often come to mind recently, and I wanted to read more about it. Luckily, I found this book by Colin Barrow called Management by Walking Around (The Every Day MBA).

In this short 16-page book, Barrow presented research about MBWA. This management strategy is one of the 25 top most used strategies according to his research.

Very simply MWBA is getting out from behind your desk and going into the workspaces where your employees are found to ask them about things they are working on and seeing the conditions in which they are working. It is important to note that these are informal visits to learn about what’s on your employees’ minds.

Barrow talks about the beginnings of MBWA. Abraham Lincoln may be the originator of this management style. He used to go out to visit the troops during the Civil War. As I noted, my experience of MBWA in the military has been quite positive. It was actually part of my supervisory responsibilities. Some of the best military commanders such as General George Patton have gone to the front lines to visit with the troops and see the operating conditions.

Barrow recommended MBWA strategies to make it more effective:

• This should be part of your regular routine. It should not be something new that you do but something that you do on an ongoing basis.
• You don’t have to visit long but just pop in, say hello, and find out what they’re working on. Also, share the news.
• Make sure that you visit everyone, not just specific people because this will have an adverse effect.
• Do these visits on your own. Don’t bring a whole team to do these visit.
• Most of your visit should be focused on listening and trying to invite feedback.
• Be open to questions and don’t concern yourself with criticism. You need to create a trusting environment where people will share information with you. This information will help you improve the organization.
• Naturally, give recognition where recognition is due.

Barrow speaks about the benefits that MBWA can have. Most importantly, it will increase trust and you will gain more knowledge about your organization. At the end of the book, he includes a list of references where you can find more information.

Management by Walking Around provided good information but I was hoping for something more in depth. I am a fan of MBWA. It’s a strategy that I employ. I did learn some important tips that I need to follow such visiting more people.

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Additional Reading

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• Books Review: TouchPoints: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments
• Book Review: Turn the Ship Around! How to Create Leadership at Every Level

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