Managers should not have to rule. If employees ran with their projects to high standards, the manager should be more or less a work clearinghouse.
When you drive on the road, observe the limits not because the police may catch you, but because these are the analyzed safe speeds for the setting of the road. Do the right on your own. Own your actions and behaviors.
I enjoyed reading the entire article and several of the comments. There are no perfect managers or employees; being a manager having to run a department really stinks when I have to manage personnel personal problems too. Theoretically, we are all adults.
Ron of FL
Ron P
of OH
@
Apr 01, 2009 09:25:53 AM
Some merit here to analogy
The first unmarmarked car was an imposter - like many bosses who think they know what they're doing, but their decisions suck and only creates emnity among those who are picked on - because they can - a typical tyrant manager. The second was an enforcer whose power role was to punish - creating paranoia and putting the brakes on people's lives and productivity... because they can - a typical Type X manager. The third set by example what is acceptable behavior and people followed as productivity was smooth. These are the rarest Type Y manager who people learn to respect, trust, and will continue to do the positively enforced behavior even when the boss is away. Contrast this to cops who never use their directional signals, run red lights because they can by turning on their emergency lights, drive on the shoulder of roads and freeways because they don't like being stuck in traffic with all of us law abiding citizens, and speeding way past the speed limit without cause - just because they can. But then, I'd rather see the cops in front of me instead of in my rear view mirror.
Tony Lee
of CA
@
Mar 27, 2009 15:03:41 PM
Ok
Well to goal is to encourage people to obey the speed limit even when the police are not around. The most effective way to do this is to make them think police are watching even when they are not, so the first example is probably the most effective. If police enforced speed by not issuing tickets, no one would slow down when they do see a cop; still, example one is the most effective for traffic enforcement.
Mike
of FL
@
Mar 27, 2009 12:06:57 PM
Moral of story
Assign most real police officers to solving real crime. Hire some guys to drive cars at the speed limit in all lanes---blocking the would-be speeders.
Assign most real managers to monitoring the real business issues of the company. Fire any managers who impede a fully encouraged work force. In other words, fire every "manager" who thinks it his duty to sneak around and "catch" people in minor infractions.
Yeah, I'm in the "snit" you mentioned. But not at you, Suzanne. You have raised a thoughtful point.
Ron P of OH @ Apr 01, 2009 09:25:53 AM
Tony Lee of CA @ Mar 27, 2009 15:03:41 PM
Mike of FL @ Mar 27, 2009 12:06:57 PM
Muser of NM @ Mar 26, 2009 11:13:05 AM
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