Is It Okay for a CEO to Assign Tasks to an Executive Without Telling Their Manager?

Can a CEO approach an executive and assign work to him without notifying his manager and also not keeping him in the loop? Is this a correct way of approach or not?

Certainly, a CEO can directly assign work to an executive without involving their manager, depending on the organization's hierarchy and communication protocols. However, transparency and clear communication are crucial in such situations to avoid misunderstandings and ensure alignment within the team. It is generally advisable for the CEO to inform the manager of the assignment to maintain coordination and facilitate a smooth workflow.

Dear Nitesh,

Issues with CEO's Direct Approach

There are two issues involved in your query. The first one: can a CEO directly approach a manager's junior? The reply is yes, he can approach. However, bypassing the manager and dealing with juniors directly has its side effects. This approach is violative of one of the principles of management that Henry Fayol has propounded. This direct approach dilutes the authority of the manager. If this trend continues, the junior employee may develop closeness with the top boss, eroding the value of the manager, and he/she may get demotivated.

Considerations for the CEO's Direct Approach

In this direct approach by the CEO, we need to know two things. Was the CEO dealing with the junior all along, and the manager joined recently? Does the CEO feel a little uneasy in dealing with the manager because of his long association with the junior? If yes, then the manager may show a little patience and wait to establish his credibility.

Impact on Manager's Trust and Authority

The second point about this direct approach by the CEO is the loss of trust of the manager. The CEO could be considering the manager ineffective, hence dealing directly. Notwithstanding either option, the manager may tell the junior employee to keep him posted on getting direct orders from the CEO. If from the above, then let the manager be informed from the bottom. After a couple of such instances, the manager may subtly ask the CEO about bypassing him. The manager may bring new ideas or concepts to make his presence felt. The manager may identify the weakness of the junior and strike at the right time. The manager should not allow his junior to trample on him, and to prevent this, if some manipulations are required, then he/she should be prepared to play them!

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

By resorting to this, the CEO is only creating an unwanted and undesired precedent. The Manager will start assigning other work to people two steps below him. It is only fair and logical that the CEO keeps the Manager in the loop.

Best wishes

A beautiful question of present-day ethics

No CEO should approach staff below the rank immediately next to the senior, whether it may be a manager or someone else. This clearly disrupts the position and order. Through strong connections, a CEO may approach a junior unofficially, which is entirely different.

The senior should assert authority for the benefit of the organization. In the case of progress and good ideas, the senior at the manager level should respect the junior and provide motivation for the benefits. Even then, the junior should not approach the CEO directly.

When culture and ethics erode, everything seems right, and nothing is false. Survival becomes the question, and even donkeys and monkeys want to survive by blaming one another. The ethics of the organization cannot be compromised for the manager's own survival.

Have your position held high...

Direct Communication by Senior Management

The CEO or MD and any other senior-level officers can directly talk to any employee in the organization, even to a contract worker. However, it should be for a specific purpose. Directly issuing instructions while bypassing their reporting authority, or at least their HOD, is the wrong process. In this scenario, the employee will not care for or respect their immediate superiors. Senior management will also lose their credibility, and if it continues, the organization's survival will be in question because this will damage the organization's image, and professionals will leave or choose not to join such organizations.

Unprofessional Practices in Organizations

In most unprofessional organizations, this will exist. The close relatives of the CEO/MD, etc., will be deployed and will work as spies in the organization.

Impact on Hierarchical Relationships

On the other side of the coin, if the senior management is not interested in the concerned HOD/GM/Manager, they will directly entertain the next-level employee, making their boss frustrated and opt for an exit.

As you may not be able to direct, it is better to look for an alternative instead of working in such unethical organizations.

Thanks,
Kamesh 333

I do not agree with that sentence, "CEO can directly assign work or give instructions." It is totally against business ethics. Why should a hierarchy be required? Drop all positions and start directly approaching junior-level staff. At least management can save money by eliminating all managerial-level staff.