Coaches, trainers, and consultants specialized in the development of managers meet many candidates for the "worst boss of all time" award. Of course, they also work with managers who are great and are genuinely interested in helping their people and companies, but let's focus now on the poorer ones. Read the following observations from the USA and think about how much they resemble the situation in our country.
Based on her 18-years of experience, coach Kathy Caprino published an article on Forbes.com summarizing the reasons why there are "so many terrible managers in corporate America". Do any of them fit you or the managers you work with? What can you do to improve the situation?
1. Uncontrolled emotions
A good manager controls his emotions. He understands why he feels the way he does and is able to decide better how to respond. That is why every manager should be thoroughly trained in emotional intelligence and communication skills. Only then can they understand what their companies and people need and want.
2. They do not have a role model
Just the fact that someone has outstanding skills and achieves great things in a certain job does not mean he has to be promoted to a management position. Nevertheless, it happens quite often. Really good leaders pass through the corporate hierarchy so fast that these new managers cannot learn anything from them. Then they become so overwhelmed by their own work that they do not have any time to notice their subordinates and their needs.
3. Confuse leadership with authoritarianism
There are many definitions of leadership, but some managers mistakenly interpret it as a way to demonstrate their power over others. A typical manager who confuses leadership with authoritarianism wants to have a herd of yes men instead of subordinates. He does not accept others' ideas, does not recognize others' accomplishments and does not allow any professional development.
4. Trying to please those at the top
A good manager is interested in doing the right work with the right people at the right time, not only in how to show himself in a good light to his superiors. If he is driven only by money and promotions, he loses the opportunities to learn, develop and grow as a person.
5. Bad career choice
A manager who hates his job cannot help his people or company. He is too focused on his own discontent to focus on anyone else. To be a good manager, you need enough energy, time and interest to support others.
-Kk-