adminIf the manager is not willing to change, then nothing will ever change. I have compiled types of managers that people encounter on a day to day basis – my own management type is a mix of so many of them.
Which one best describes either you or your boss?
The pitchfork manager
Managers that manage by a pitchfork do so with a heavy and often controlling hand.
Have you ever worked with a boss that demands progress, forces accountability and constantly pushes for results using threats and fear tactics?
This style of tough management is painful for people who are put in a position where they are pushed to avoid consequences rather than pulled toward a desired goal.
The control freak
Closely related to the pitchfork manager is the control freak. This person needs to have control of everything that is going on in the palm of her/his hand.
They dislike subordinates making any decisions, no matter how small without first consulting their opinion.
Control freaks will also tend to hoard information. They may assign you to work on a task, but then not tell you everything you need to know to complete the task.
You could spend hours working on the task only to find out that half the information you needed was sitting on your boss’ desk and that he already knew it.
Control freaks use information as power. As long as they have the information, they have power.
They have been known to withhold information that was critical to the success of a project.
Asking questions will help you to get a better feel for what they know. Keep in mind that control freaks do not withhold information to make you fail.
They do it because it assures them that you will return to them for more information/ assistance, etc.
When you return it gives them a sense of importance, being needed, and most importantly, still being in control.
The best way to deal with a control freak is to status-report them to death. This can be a time-consuming and painful process, but continuously keeping them in the loop is one of the surest ways to keep them off your back.
The presumptuous manager
Presumptuous managers focus more on themselves than anything else. To them, their personal production, recognition and sales achievements take precedence over the people they lead.
The team building efforts are usually scattered in the process. Presumptuous managers often put their personal needs and objectives above the needs of their team.
As you can imagine, these types of managers experience more attrition, turnover, and problems relating to managing a team than any other type of manager.
Presumptuous managers are typically assertive and confident individuals. However, they are typically driven by their ego to look good and outperform the rest of the team.
Presumptuous managers breed unhealthy competition rather than an environment of collaboration.
The passive manager
Also referred to as parenting managers or pleasing managers, passive managers take the concept of developing close relationships with their team and co-workers to a new level. These managers have one ultimate goal, to make people happy.
While this is certainly an admirable trait, it can quickly become a barrier to effective leadership.
Although appealing, this type of boss is viewed as incompetent, inconsistent and clueless often lacking the respect they need from their employees in order to effectively build a championship team.
You can spot a passive manager by looking at their team and the number of people who should have been in the firing line a long time ago but never did.
They are more timid and passive in their approach. These managers will do anything to avoid confrontation and collapse holding people accountable with confrontation and conflict.
The blame fixer
This type of boss makes it his/her job to make everyone else responsible for fixing his/her problems.
He/she takes no responsibility for his own employees, department, or results. He/she is, however, the first to take credit for something, which went well.
If you are dealing with such a type of boss, make an effort to document everything that you do, particularly on projects, task, assignments and goals.
This way, if anything goes wrong, you will have your own alibi. Be aware that in the event of an extreme blow up, he or she will try to evade accountability, and may try to blame you.
However, if you have documented what you were told to do and how to do it, you will be more likely to come through unscathed.
I have already picked out one or two types that my boss fits perfectly into, I am sure you will pick some for your boss- just make sure you get tips of how to manage him/her.
Till next week when we continue identifying the types of managers we work with, may God richly bless you.
Shelter Chieza is an advisor in management issues. She can be contacted at [email protected]
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