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Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Snowplough managers' could be preventing you from stepping up
'Snowplough managers' struggle to delegate tasks. (Envato Elements pic) PARIS : Imagine a manager who takes the lead on everything, anticipates problems, oversees the smallest details, and saves you the trouble of dealing with things. Put like that, it may sound great. But by taking on too much of your work and refusing to delegate, they're actually preventing you from learning, from making mistakes, from growing. This is what is known as 'snowplow management.' This expression was coined by the teams at Owl Labs, a company specialising in video-conferencing tools. Its CEO, Frank Weishaupt, describes this management style as similar to overprotective parenting. '[It] resembles snowplough parenting, where a parent removes as many challenges from their child's life as possible,' he told Fast Company. In concrete terms, these managers want to control everything. They take the important decisions, keep strategic projects to themselves, and leave the simpler tasks to their teams. They renege on assignments, cancel meetings without explanation, and keep their staff out of discussions with management. They have good intentions, of course. But by doing everything for their team, they end up holding people back instead of helping them move forward. Managerial stress and fear of failure So why might they feel this need to do everything themselves? Probably because the pressure is on, especially for managers. Juggling remote work, ever-higher targets and unclear expectations, they are among the employees most exposed to stress. According to Owl Labs' 2024 report on hybrid working, their stress level is 55% higher than that of their subordinates. Some fear for their jobs, others simply want to prove they're in control. Almost all are convinced – often in good faith – that they'll get things done faster if they take them in hand themselves. While it may feel reassuring, trying to be in total control can have negative effects. By seeking to centralise everything rather than delegate, snowplough managers curtail people's independence, stifle initiative and hamper team dynamics. Employees stagnate, ideas fizzle out, and collective energy is depleted. The problem intensifies in times of crisis or restructuring. Middle managers, often the target of redundancy plans, try to prove that they are indispensable by taking care of everything. But this strategy ultimately wears them down – and their teams. So, how should you deal with a ' snowplough manager'? The key is to engage in frank, constructive discussion. It's not a question of pointing the finger, but of making suggestions. Take the initiative to express your desire to get more involved: ask to pilot a project, share an idea, offer to help with an unfinished project. Show that you're reliable, motivated and capable of taking on responsibilities without making them a burden. And if the situation remains deadlocked despite your best efforts, it's best to explore other avenues by taking part in cross-functional projects or in-house training. This can be a simple, practical way to keep moving forward, even when things seem to be at a standstill. 'Snowplough management' often reflects a good, misguided intention: to protect, secure and avoid mistakes. But it's by leaving room for attempts, mistakes and autonomy that teams gain in strength. Progress requires the right to fail. Trust, the ability to delegate, and openness to the unexpected are the keys to enabling employees to take flight. And for managers to finally free themselves from the role of snowplough.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Almost 7 in 10 companies now use AI for work, survey finds
This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter. AI has become integrated into most workplaces, with nearly 67% of companies using it for work-related purposes, according to a recent survey of 1,000 full-time knowledge workers by workplace technology platform OwlLabs in partnership with Pulse. Nearly half (46%) of the survey's respondents said they're either heavily using AI at work or somewhat reliant on it, OwlLab CEO Frank Weishaupt reported in a May 8 post. They also said they've used AI mostly for administrative tasks like scheduling and calendar management (35%), crunching data (33%), and writing up content like emails and reports (30%), the survey found. Additionally, almost a quarter (24%) of knowledge workers said their employers are strongly supportive of using AI and are supplying tools, training and clear guidelines, according to the survey. OwlLab's findings signal a major shift from last year, most notably that employers are now actively encouraging employees to use AI, Weishaupt said. Only 4% of knowledge workers said AI use is discouraged, according to the survey. While AI is helping employees get more done, as Weishaupt observed, it may also come with issues employers should be prepared to address, recent studies indicate. Having clear corporate policies on AI use and making sure employees understand them is a must for helping to keep these issues at bay, a KPMG study released in April emphasized. For example, although 67% of employees who responded to a KPMG survey said they're using AI to enhance productivity, 57% admitted to making mistakes in their work due to AI errors, and 44% 'knowingly used it improperly' at work. About half said they use AI without knowing whether it's allowed, and another 46% admitted to uploading sensitive company data to public platforms. A March report from AI vendor Writer and research group Workplace Intelligence pointed to a deeper problem. The study found that most executives say generative AI adoption is creating conflict and friction within their organization. This friction has led to division between IT teams and other lines of business, as well as between executives and employees, which 'demand robust change management, improved vendor quality, and enhanced collaboration between IT and other departments,' Writer's chief strategy officer stated. Employers may also want to keep an eye on how employees use AI during training, a January report from ed-tech firm Moodle suggested. More than half of U.S. employees told Moodle they use AI-related tools to complete mandatory workplace training, including to answer difficult questions they unsure of (21%) and help them with certain parts of questions (19%). Additionally, 12% said they even let AI tools take the entire training for them, the study found.
Fast Company
18-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
What is a ‘snowplow manager?' How to deal with this type of toxic boss
Does your manager hate to delegate tasks? It might sound like a good thing—after all, that means less work for you. But, just like having a micromanaging boss is no fun, having a manager who takes on much of your work can create a work environment that is both stifling and unproductive. We asked three experts about what causes some bosses to act this way and how to encourage your supervisor to step aside and allow you to do your job. What is a 'snowplow manager'? A 'snowplow manager' is a supervisor who takes on excessive work themselves rather than delegating to their team, says Frank Weishaupt, CEO of videoconferencing tech company Owl Labs. His team recently came up with the term, says Weishaupt, after noticing this trend in management, which 'resembles snowplow parenting, where a parent removes as many challenges from their child's life as possible.' Signs that your manager is snowplowing can include micromanagement, not letting you lead projects or calls, excluding you from meetings with senior leadership, and stepping in to do work they had previously assigned to you, says Jennifer Dulski, CEO and founder of software company Rising Team.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Owl Labs Earns Microsoft Teams Certification, Unveils Enhancements to Further Meet IT Needs for Enterprise Businesses & Government
Connected device system with enterprise features provides the most flexible, easy-to-deploy in-room solutions for companies of any size LONDON, January 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Owl Labs, a global leader in 360-degree video conferencing solutions powering both smart standalone and connected products through patented software, today announced Microsoft Teams certified products, along with TAA compliant SKUs, and an expanded suite of IT solutions that build upon its superior meeting room offerings. The company's Meeting Owl 3 and Owl Bar products are now peripherals that are certified for Microsoft Teams, and the Meeting Owl 4+ is currently in the certification process, reaffirming Owl Labs' alignment with Microsoft's trusted standards for quality and performance. In tandem, Owl Labs will be rolling out software and hardware enhancements to deliver even smoother integration of its industry-leading hybrid collaboration solutions that cater to businesses of all sizes. "We've been delivering innovative hybrid meeting room solutions to companies since 2016. Today's announcement marks an exciting evolution as we expand our solutions to include enterprise-grade features starting with certifications to support IT teams at scale," said Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs. "We're giving enterprise IT buyers exactly what they've been asking for – powerful management tools, enhanced security, and seamless deployment options – all while preserving the intuitive experience our customers love." Powered by patented AI-driven software, Owl Labs' devices continuously improve performance, supporting diverse scenarios from intimate discussions to large presentations. Designed for modern, distributed offices, Owl Labs products prioritise flexibility, portability, and affordability, fostering inclusive and collaborative environments for both remote and in-room participants. Microsoft Teams Certification With the certification of the Meeting Owl 3 and Owl Bar, and the Meeting Owl 4+ to follow, Owl Labs strengthens its position as a trusted partner for IT professionals in over 225,000 organisations, and 89 of the Fortune 100 companies. The Teams certification validates that Owl Labs products meet the rigorous requirements of IT buyers and ensures optimal functionality in enterprise ecosystems. "The Microsoft Teams certification is a testament to our team's relentless pursuit of meeting customer and buyers' needs," said Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs. "We've seen overwhelmingly positive results in the small and medium business market, which makes us optimistic about expanding to meet IT buyer needs in the enterprise segment. By meeting Microsoft's rigorous standards, we will continue to expand our capacity to foster seamless collaboration across organisations of all sizes." This certification underscores Owl Labs' dedication to delivering exceptional, plug-and-play devices that seamlessly integrate with Teams, offering flexible, scalable solutions that adapt to evolving IT and meeting space needs. New Modes, Robust Analytics and Device Management Owl Labs devices use robotics and patented AI-powered software to automatically switch between cameras to capture the best view of in-room attendees. Now, Owl Labs is enhancing its industry-leading products with additional Modes for the Meeting Owl product line, which include panorama and grid view, to allow people to better customise their view and have even more natural, face-to-face conversations that transcend physical distance. To further provide secure and flexible collaboration for IT administrators, Owl Labs offers the Nest®, a customer analytics platform that serves as an additional customer admin portal to the Teams management tools, that gives visibility and control over your organisation's Owl Labs devices all in one place, for status updates and notifications, minimising the need for physical meeting room checks. Supporting bulk device management for scalability, the Nest is expanding its features to enhance meeting analytics and enable large-scale deployments, addressing the needs of both smaller fleets and larger enterprises. TAA Compliance and Cyber Essentials Plus Owl Labs' products have also acquired additional certifications including Trade Agreement Act (TAA) Compliance, Cyber Essentials Plus certification and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification, addressing stringent security and compliance requirements for government and enterprise buyers, reinforcing the company's commitment to trust and reliability. Owl Labs software is developed in the U.S. by an experienced team of engineers who are continually iterating to make Owl products smarter over time. All software adheres to industry-standard security protocols and Owl devices connect via a private, dedicated wireless network. To learn more about Owl Labs and its connected device system of video conferencing solutions for hybrid organisations, visit About Owl Labs: Owl Labs is the first company to build AI-powered, 360-degree video conferencing solutions for hybrid organisations. Its connected device system and Owl Intelligence System™ software make meetings more inclusive and collaborative by levelling the playing field between remote and in-room participants. The Meeting Owl® 4+ is the latest generation of the first WiFi-enabled, 360-degree camera, microphone and speaker that automatically zooms in on whoever's speaking. Owl Labs has raised $47 million in funding and is based in Boston, with remote and hybrid employees all over the world. To learn more and explore the company's research on the State of Hybrid Work, visit View source version on Contacts Moxie Communications Group | press@
