How many managers do you know who have no management skills? I bet it didn't take long for you to come up with several. It’s quite the phenomenon, but today I’m more interested in their ability to damage a business. A manager has a lot of leeway in how things are done. Consequently, it is important that the manager be invested in the success of the company or the project.
If a manager is incompetent, it’s obvious how they can damage the business. What about if the manager is all about themselves? If this is the case, they can deliberately make sweeping changes to a business that will run it into the ground, truly a bad seed. I have seen this happen.
The Bad Seed
So what should you look for so that you can cut your losses before it’s too late? Ask yourself if any of these describe your manager.
Okay, if any of these stand out for you, then you need to assess more closely what impact the manager is having on the bottom line of your business.
The Leader
So, what should you look for in a manager?
Too often, business owners or boards of directors give people management positions who have no experience, minimal leadership skills, and no social skills, and then a year or two down the road, they wonder what happened. Dare I say it? Duh!
© Williamsen
If a manager is incompetent, it’s obvious how they can damage the business. What about if the manager is all about themselves? If this is the case, they can deliberately make sweeping changes to a business that will run it into the ground, truly a bad seed. I have seen this happen.
The Bad Seed
So what should you look for so that you can cut your losses before it’s too late? Ask yourself if any of these describe your manager.
- dictatorial
- fails to listen to suggestions
- unwilling or unable to explain rational reasons for changes
- has a poverty consciousness
- insincerity or phoniness when dealing with customers
- fails to consider the long term needs of the business
- rarely institutes changes that increase the bottom line or improve the public face of the business
- moody
Okay, if any of these stand out for you, then you need to assess more closely what impact the manager is having on the bottom line of your business.
The Leader
So, what should you look for in a manager?
- a manager who is just as involved in the process every day as everyone else, who steps up when there is a need rather than putting a strain on others
- a manager who listens to suggestions and asks questions and then analyzes them against the mission of the business or the project
- a manager who thoroughly thinks through his/her actions before coming to a decision
- a manager who isn’t always expecting the next shoe to drop, who moves forward instead of always looking over their shoulder
- a manager who is always creating new ways for the business to prosper
- a manager who recognizes the importance of social skills in developing the reputation of the business.
Too often, business owners or boards of directors give people management positions who have no experience, minimal leadership skills, and no social skills, and then a year or two down the road, they wonder what happened. Dare I say it? Duh!
© Williamsen
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