From the Ask Tom mailbag:

Question:
I agree that if you have a Stratum III manager covering a role for a missing Stratum II supervisor, it will only be a temporary fix, but what if we are truly in for a long dig out of this recession and the situation won’t change for a while?

Response:
Shades of the “new normal?”

Every minute the manager is being a supervisor is a minute spent away from systems work. The good news is, with lower volume, there will be lower pressure on your systems. Even still, you face the dilemma of a manager with less challenge.

So, take advantage of the situation on two fronts. Time Span can help break down Stratum II supervisory tasks into Stratum I contributions. This will be an opportunity to find your Stratum I team leaders who have the capability to grow into Stratum II supervisors over the next few years.

The other front is true Stratum III systems work. During this period, with less pressure on your systems, your manager, even while covering supervisory tasks, should take advantage of this time to find system efficiencies. Lean initiatives, identifying constraints, reviewing sequence, eliminating unnecessary elements.

But, there isn’t time in the day?

I remember something my father told me as a student in college. “Son, if you can’t handle a full course-load and a part time job, then maybe you don’t deserve to go to college.”