Whether you’re aspiring to become a manager, were recently promoted, or have been in management for years, you must consider the many facets of managing others. Being a manager is a big job. You’re expected to know your stuff and have the answers. Good managers can meet deadlines and keep budgets. Great managers take it to another level – they foster teamwork and inspire and lead others.
Before you ask how you can become a great manager, you must first understand how you measure up here and now. As Socrates said, know thyself. How do you approach your people? What are your very basic ideas of those you manage?
Consider whether you are a Theory X or a Theory Y manager1. If your approach is mainly hierarchical, or “top-down”, you probably believe that employees dislike work and would rather avoid responsibilities. Your management style most likely involves a lot of dictating and directing. This kind of manager is know as a Theory X manager. A manager who’s more likely to empower his people, and who believes that they enjoy work and like responsibility is known as a Theory Y manager. Think of these two different categories of management. Where do you fit in? Is your approach effective? How does it affect those working for you, and ultimately their performance?
Ponder these questions and my next post will further examine management styles and their effectiveness.
1 McGregor, D. (1964). The Human Side of Enterprise. New York: McGraw-Hill, p. 68 - 78
