Seniority Priority

Seniority priority.  It’s a part of corporate America that doesn’t get a lot of pub, but is at the heart of most everything we do.  Senior level execs say ‘Jump!’ and all colleagues quickly ask ‘How high?’  Unless you want to commit career suicide, requests from senior level execs naturally take priority.  This concept can be extended throughout all levels of the organization.  Basically, the higher the person is on the org chart above you, the higher the priority you will place on the request.  

Unfortunately, executives have no real appreciation for this concept.  This level of service is their norm.  Most requests they make to employees immediately become that person’s highest priority task for the day.  They receive timely answers and immediate results.  They may also assume their employees provide the same level of service to everyone else in the organization.  Everyone together now… HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!  OK, OK.   I’m sure most executives realize there is some degree of seniority priority going on in their organization.  But I’d bet they don’t realize the extent to which it happens. 

Now take these same employees who frantically worked to get the executive those timely answers.  What happens when the first year junior level associate requests information from these same colleagues?  I’m guessing the turnaround time is much, much longer.  Or they may not respond at all.  Welcome to seniority priority. 

If my low priority is someone else’s high priority, I am operating from a position of strength.  Bottom line, the work gets done quickly.  If my high priority is someone else’s low priority, I am operating from a position of weakness.  Bottom line, the work never gets done.  Of course, this priority position of strength or weakness isn’t solely determined by seniority of position, but it is probably the main factor.

So, before you launch into that next project, assess the different priorities you have and how you can get into the greatest position of strength to get it all done.  Perhaps it’s giving others a longer lead time to reply, dropping names of higher ups (with their approval of course) to give it the appearance of greater urgency, offering help in return that may induce others to help you, or getting others to understand why it’s critical they respond to you.  One tactic I’d suggest using only as a last resort is going over the head of a person who may stonewall you.  This can easily backfire and destroy any relationship you had with that person.  You could end up winning the battle, but losing the war.

Related reading:  Four Ways to Gain Positions of Power