Hack:
Start the PIF Way for Managers

By Madhusudan Rao - Solution Architect at NTT Data

August 23, 2010 at 1:46am

Moonshots

Focus the work of management on a higher purpose

Humanize the language of business

Enable communities of passion

Summary

PIF stands for Pay it Forward

The Wikipedia link talks about the concept and has a link to the movie that was made as well.

Why not introduce this concept to Managers within organizations? This concept will help build a community of Managers who are committed in helping each other.

Problem

There is a lot of expertise in any organization. It remains within the persons concerned and rarely gets to the benefit of others.

When newer Managers are in spots of bother, they dont know whom to approach, usually. They are hesitant for various reasons.

There is a need for an informal setup in the organization that morally binds the (expert) Managers to coach the (novice) Managers.

Solution

Problems are always present for any Manager - how does he solve it? He takes the help of a peer or a senior Manager within the organization. What happens if the senior Manager has a problem? He asks another one and so on, goes the chain of activities.

All it takes for the chain to start is for one Manager to help another in need. He can then ask the one he offered help to repay the deed to another Manager. This way, one can cover all the Managers in the organization and bind them in a way that no formal roles or hierarchies will. The camaraderie between the Managers will be a treat to watch, thanks to this small gesture.

Practical Impact

Increased goodwill between Managers within the organization
Best Practices sharing by an informal network
Problems get solved as quickly as they arise

First Steps

The Senior Management should be asked to start this initiative and start various chains within the organization and track it grow.

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September 5, 2010 at 11:59am

Madhusudan Rao

Thanks Matt.

I wouldn't like to enforce this on the Managers. This would have to appeal to their sense of Collaboration with other Managers (like one of the Moonshots says "Enable communities of passion"). Because enforcement will not work in such an initiative.

September 5, 2010 at 8:49am

Matt Shlosberg

Madhusudan -

Great idea! How would you enforce managers to actually pay it forward? What can you do to make sure their actions are valuable and aren't performed out of requirements to pay it forward?