Why the middle manager in your line is the most important records person in the organisation.
Under one very simplified model of management focus, different levels focus like this:
1. Front line managers focus on their team.
2. Middle managers allocate resources, work across the middle of the organisation and join upper management objectives to front line execution.
3. Senior management focus outwards - how the organisation interacts with the world and what objectives it should have.
Like all models, it's wrong, but useful.
What it means for records, is that the middle manager in your line has to be an effective advocate for records if you're going to make gains in your organisation.
They'll get you budget.
They'll advocate for you to work with the teams of other middle managers (which is obviously necessary for your success).
They'll make or break your program.
As long as they believe in you, and understand what records is for.
If they don't, they're the first relationship you have to fix, and the first person you have to train.
A very interesting alternative perspective to the 'you've got to get executive-level' support/champions. My own experience is if you can build the critical mass across middle management, they exert the upwards influence for you - so I'm very much in agreement!