Federal Coach: Leading on the Dotted Line

Last month, I held an online training for GovLoop members around the three key secrets for rising up to the challenge of leadership. For today’s column, I wanted to share a question from a participant of this training.

Do you have the same recommendations for dotted-line managers—for people who must pull together different teams, perhaps from different offices or agencies, depending on the issue at hand?

Solid-line management refers to a clear chain-of-command based on organizational structures. Dotted-line management, on the other hand, applies to organizations that supplement a traditional chain-of-command with reporting structures based on collaboration around shared functional expertise, special projects or other circumstances.

We’re all dotted-line managers to some extent. While positions and titles offer some authority, the best leaders understand that success depends on building relationships and understanding agency culture and politics when working with people from different areas who have other supervisors for many day-to-day activities.

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