Run skip-levels as signal, not as surveillance
Explain the purpose and structure of skip-levels that build trust instead of undermining a manager layer.
What a skip-level is for A skip-level is a leadership listening post, not a hidden performance review. It gives you two things you cannot get from a normal staff update: signal from closer to the work, and a chance to share senior context directly with the layer below your managers. Why it backfires Skip-levels fail when they feel like surveillance or when leaders act directly on what they hear. If you fix the problem yourself, you teach the team to bypass the manager and you teach the manager that you do not trust them. The structure that works Open by…
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