What's your management style?
In my career I have had quite a few different types of managers. Some have left a great mark and others a great scar. Let's break it down...
The Tyrant
This was not decades ago, but much more recent. Which in and of itself surprises me. You see, most would like to believe that there are laws and companies follow them. Need I mention Enron? The tyrant has usually been around for a while, has the ear and smile of the higher up or owner. They don't outright abuse, they have mastered the skill and therefor the staff is left with he said/she said. The tyrant has tenure and also usually the company fears them.
The Passive Aggressive
This person doesn't care who likes them and who doesn't, that's not the reason for their nilly willy ways. Rather, they enjoy the passive aggressive game. These managers have deeper issues then just being mean. It is near impossible to have a real conversation with a passive aggressive manager let alone do anything they will approve of and if they do, they won't approve consistently. These managers usually like the infighting and may just even provoke it.
The Micromanaging Willow tree
These managers stay until they die. No storm will unroot them and knowing this makes them lazy. They usually come into work and simply exist. On occasion they will take an interest and micromanage any situation to the minute detail. Most want them out and yet most pity them too much to get them out.
The Emperor
These managers take their title way too serious and in some cases mistake manager for emperor. They will dictate, take over and pressure anyone throughout a project. They want to know your personal life as well, usually to use it against you. Unfortunately, there are lot of emperors around.
The Sloth
These are a dime a dozen. Their title happened in a rhetoric pay increase scale. Basically, every few years to justify a raise a title is given. They don't want to manage and therefor do as little of it as possible. They avoid conflict which leaves their staff open to attacks. Their purpose is to collect a check and a title...period.
The Ex Military
This manager runs a tight ship. Everything runs the same each day and at the same hour. Change is seen as the enemy and so progress is also the enemy. Usually pretty fun managers as long as all the work is done exactly how it was laid it out to be completed. Open forum is not allowed, there is a hierarchy and not following it is treason.
I have worked for each of the above at one time or another. On a brighter note, I have also worked for some pretty good managers.
The Andy Griffith
This type is usually the Opie type, clean cut and raised with so much morals it shows in their smile. They have that Andy type simpleness in which they explain something and you would have to be a complete ASS not to understand. You always learn from this type of manager. They plow through and adapt to change, they show you how but they don't hold your hand to do it. Usually mistaken for kiss asses, they just know how to handle all kinds of people. Very little bothers them and holding a grudge seems pointless to them. Not to be mistaken for a wuss, they will do what it takes to get the job done.
The Die Hard
This type usually looks like they've been through hell and back. The stress has deteriorated them. They believe in people and they fight for their staff. In the process pissing off their higher ups. These Die Hards never make it to VP or a CO. They are appreciated for their effectiveness and ability to get their staff trust and loyalty, however they're usually seen as a maverick.
The Home Depot
These types really take serious The Home Depot book and see their people as ducks that need to be kept in a row. They have a vision and progress is always on their mind. They understand the ant colony and find it amusing that others don't. If listened to, they usually make sense and one needs to strap in and get ready for a fast and bumpy ride to progress.
What type of manager are you? What lessons have you learned that made you a better manager? Have you taken the time to learn some lessons along the way? More importantly... are you sharing that knowledge?
