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Performance Pointers Archives

5 Worst Management Styles - Part 3

Management by Petty Theft
We’ve all had this happen to us at one time or another: you have a brain-wave, a great idea, and present it at a meeting, or during your one-on-one with your boss. He barely lets you finish speaking, and dismisses your idea as unrealistic or not feasible. Then, to your surprise, days or weeks later, a memo lands on your desk outlining a slightly modified version of your idea - except now it’s your boss’ idea. Initially, you shrug it off, figuring that at least you made a difference. And then it happens again and again, not just to you, but to your co-workers, as well. 

It gets really annoying when the idea as presented by the boss is full of errors and flaws (because he didn’t listen when you first mentioned it) but now you have no recourse - if you object, or try to make suggestions to improve the idea, it’s as if you’re against your own plan - at least, that’s what your boss will tell you. He may privately admit that it was your idea, but publicly it’s now his, and you are left with the choice to either do as he suggests, or be branded “not a team player”.

Why? Similar reasons as before: blind ambition, combined with a narcissistic personality and insecurity about their role, fueled by the belief that if the Boss acknowledges that his staff has good ideas from time to time, it will expose his lack of good ideas, and ultimately challenge his right to be the leader. When do we see it? In companies that are going through a transition that requires some innovative thinking. When a “maintenance” manager, tasked with maintaining the status quo, is now expected to operate as a “change” manager. Overwhelmed by the new and unfamiliar task, the only way to “survive” is to look the part of the innovator - at all costs. 

Next: Management by Proxy (The Wizard of Oz Syndrome)

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