When your boss is slow passing on info... and your team is getting restless

​Things like performance review data, new targets, KPIs... your team is expecting important data. They are waiting for you to send it but you have not been given it or maybe you haven't had the permission to release it yet.

Your team nag you and start getting uneasy - understandably.

How much can you nag your boss?
Do you tell  your team what the delay is?
Do you stay loyal to your boss and cover their slowness?

Connecting people and tasks is a regular issue we hear about and help to solve. Communication flow is probably the Number One gripe we get from middle leaders. In particular: when they are waiting to pass on some information to their team, but this hasn’t been released by those higher up.

This raises questions:

Are senior managers holding back for a legitimate reason or are they just being slow?

Are they being slow because they don’t appreciate the urgency, or that they don’t care?

How does the middle leader approach them? Or can they?

What does the middle leader say to their team? Do they criticise the senior leaders? Do they stand up for them? Do they openly empathise with one side or both?

 
A lot depends on the culture of where you work and its different expectations. So have this in mind when we suggest this as a starting point when keeping your team notified:

"I totally understand how frustrating it is for you. I am in the same position. I am in regular contact with the senior team and have let them know that a quick resolution will be appreciated by all of us. They are not being awkward but only want to ensure that the information is accurate."
The important thing here is letting your team know that their criticism has been noted. They are not being ignored.
But what if you believe that your requests are being ignored by your manager?
That's something for next time. Any ideas?
If you want to contribute but prefer to keep it out of your manager's sight, send a PM.