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Living the Janus Face : The Promise and Perils of Role-Distancing for Middle Managers

Gjerde, S. LU and Alvesson, M. LU (2024) In Journal of Management Studies
Abstract

Middle managers often find themselves in a challenging position: They have to impress different audiences in somewhat incompatible ways and represent and enact managerial ideals and expectations that may be detrimental to their work identities. This study explores role distancing as an alluring coping strategy. Role distancing – acts that express separateness between the individual and the enacted role – may enable the professional to do management and give an impressive managerial performance, without becoming a manager. This may seem like the perfect strategy to impress others while escaping identity struggles. Or maybe not. In this study we take a closer look at role distancing among a group of middle managers in higher education and... (More)

Middle managers often find themselves in a challenging position: They have to impress different audiences in somewhat incompatible ways and represent and enact managerial ideals and expectations that may be detrimental to their work identities. This study explores role distancing as an alluring coping strategy. Role distancing – acts that express separateness between the individual and the enacted role – may enable the professional to do management and give an impressive managerial performance, without becoming a manager. This may seem like the perfect strategy to impress others while escaping identity struggles. Or maybe not. In this study we take a closer look at role distancing among a group of middle managers in higher education and focus on one manager, Manny, in particular over a period of time. We find that what first seemed to be a promising strategy applauded by a backstage audience, turns into a problem in need of its own solution, as backstage also becomes a frontstage. The paper contributes to theory about middle managers, role distancing in professional work and front−/backstage acting.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
double frontstage-backstage, escape, identity work, meta-role distancing, middle management and leadership
in
Journal of Management Studies
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85184244079
ISSN
0022-2380
DOI
10.1111/joms.13041
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bfb58a0f-37d5-4447-bce2-e75919f51007
date added to LUP
2024-03-01 13:29:01
date last changed
2024-03-01 13:29:01
@article{bfb58a0f-37d5-4447-bce2-e75919f51007,
  abstract     = {{<p>Middle managers often find themselves in a challenging position: They have to impress different audiences in somewhat incompatible ways and represent and enact managerial ideals and expectations that may be detrimental to their work identities. This study explores role distancing as an alluring coping strategy. Role distancing – acts that express separateness between the individual and the enacted role – may enable the professional to do management and give an impressive managerial performance, without becoming a manager. This may seem like the perfect strategy to impress others while escaping identity struggles. Or maybe not. In this study we take a closer look at role distancing among a group of middle managers in higher education and focus on one manager, Manny, in particular over a period of time. We find that what first seemed to be a promising strategy applauded by a backstage audience, turns into a problem in need of its own solution, as backstage also becomes a frontstage. The paper contributes to theory about middle managers, role distancing in professional work and front−/backstage acting.</p>}},
  author       = {{Gjerde, S. and Alvesson, M.}},
  issn         = {{0022-2380}},
  keywords     = {{double frontstage-backstage; escape; identity work; meta-role distancing; middle management and leadership}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Management Studies}},
  title        = {{Living the Janus Face : The Promise and Perils of Role-Distancing for Middle Managers}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/joms.13041}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/joms.13041}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}