Good vs. Bad Managers - The Battle Rages On
Contrary to popular belief, being a favorite manager involves more than giving away money and multiple days off. That’s an excellent idea in theory, but you won’t be a manager for very long if your expensive team doesn’t do any work. Close your eyes and think about some of your favorite managers. Don’t worry, this counts as work time for your timesheet. What attributes or styles do your favorite managers have in common?
I’ve enlisted the help of two characters who will articulate how you can be an effective & favorite manager, and what not to do. I’d like to introduce you to a Good Manager (GM) and a Bad Manager (BM).
Good Manager: Thanks for having me on the newsletter. It’s a prestigious honor to be an imaginary character in an well-known setting like this. In my opinion, being a favorite manager is all about three things: having the team’s back, caring about the employees as individuals, and making their jobs meaningful.
Bad Manager: That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard. People come to work to work. If everyone just shut up and did their job, we’d all get out of here on time. Netflix ain’t going to watch itself you know.
GM: Employees count on their manager to set the direction for the team, but the best managers then get out of their way and let their people shine. Strong work cultures are built on mutual trust and letting people use their strengths.
BM: If you don’t tell people what do to, then they might mess things up or worse yet, not do things the way I do them. Plus how do I take the credit if they’re off doing whatever they want?
GM: The favorite managers are the ones who act as a role model for their team. They walk the talk every day. They handle pressure well and communicate honestly and directly with their teams.
BM: <In a mocking tone> “Ooh, I’m a role model. Look at me.” Blech. My employees can watch me all right — watch me make fat stacks of cash.
GM: Strong managers always recognize and reward good work, and they show employees that they are appreciated. They devote consistent time to developing employees’ careers and advocate for their needs.
BM: Your mama recognizes good work.
GM: Last, but not least, favorite managers find a way to make work fun. It doesn’t have to be a major undertaking or huge time investment — just little bright spots of fun so your team will have something to look forward to. Maybe one of the totally reasonable suggestions from Tips for an Immature Virtual Meeting….
BM: I’m not going to even dignify that with a response.
This has been a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental. It probably doesn’t feel that way since most of us have had managers on both sides of the fence (and for some people both sides of the fence at once). Consider what type of manager you are and what type of manager you want to be. Like most things in life, all it takes is a decision and an action. And to leave your whips at home, preferably not within the reach of children.
-Philip
