Author Archives
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ASKING QUESTIONS: PERHAPS YOUR MOST POWERFUL MANAGEMENT TOOL
“I keep six honest serving men they taught me all I knew, their names were what and where and when and how and why and who“ Rudyard Kipling In an earlier article in this series entitled “Untested Assumptions”,… Read More ›
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SURVIVING A REGIME CHANGE
During a cross-country flight, I once struck up a conversation with a fellow frequent flier about our professions and the various challenges we faced. An architect who appreciates stability, he told me that mid-stream regime changes were among his biggest… Read More ›
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DON’T ASK SUBORDINATES TO DO YOUR WORK
When a manager cannot let go or trust subordinates to do their job sufficiently, the micromanager steps in and either does it themself, or insists the job be done their way. The subsequent organizational results include lowered unit morale,… Read More ›
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COMMUNICATING A DECISION
A common criticism of management, is the announcement of an important decision with little explanation, rationale, or indication of the precise results they hope to achieve. When it’s a senior management decision junior managers have to explain to their workforce,… Read More ›
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TAKING CREDIT FOR THE WORK OF OTHERS: A MANAGEMENT VICE
As I write this series of articles entitled “A Management Vice”, I find myself unable to decide which of them is more irritating, infuriating, frustrating, or just plain unacceptable. Suffice to say, taking credit for the work of others is… Read More ›
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ABANDONING SHIP: A MANAGEMENT VICE
Abandoning Ship is a close relative of rejecting blame but it has a different set of dynamics and insidiousness. Picture a lively meeting between a manager and staff. Collectively they have a challenging problem to solve and are discussing various… Read More ›
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REJECTING BLAME: A MANAGEMENT VICE
All managers, by definition are the “Captain of the ship”. They are responsible and accountable for everything that happens beneath their authority. Yet there are managers, who when things around them go amiss, quickly find reasons — by their… Read More ›
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BANKRUPTING YOUR WORD: A MANAGEMENT VICE
“You have my word”. Throughout history — Western history at least — the phrase “you have my word” has carried significant symbolic meaning. It is often paired with the concept of honor and invariably communicates an important contract between those who… Read More ›
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PADDING YOUR RESUME: A MANAGEMENT VICE
Over the years, I have seen some spectacular examples of resume padding in the professional world, complete with the disastrous consequences that often accompany them. Aspiring political candidates and job aspirants who have claimed military service never done, academic degrees… Read More ›
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PROTECTING YOUR AUTHORITY: MANAGING POOR MANAGERS
Almost all of us have had to deal with a boss whose own management style and set of management skills left something to be desired. Managing up — as it is called — is relatively easy when one’s boss has… Read More ›
What Best Mnagers Know & Do 