Management by Wandering or Walking Around (MBWA)

The arc of management bends towards sitting on your arses, The Economist shares in an article in Feb 2025 (Link here). Couldn't be truer.

But in an era of Zoom calls and data analytics, there is still no substitute for shoe leather. One reason for managers to roam around is motivational: most employees like attention. Then, there's real world connection. Toyota popularized 'genchi genbutsu' or go and see for yourself.Increasingly, companies prefer open offices where managers and employees sit together vs. in corner offices, making communication frequent and easier. Jeff Bezos was known for walking through the office spaces, often engaging in brief discussions with senior employees outside of his busy calendar or wringing the floor with his signature laughter. Some of the best leaders I've worked with are the ones always on the move, mingling with employees, making themselves accessible and listening in on the floor.