Management Consulting

Have management practices really changed, or is it more of the “same old, same old,” especially in this recession? Over the past four decades, I’ve experienced management styles ranging from fear and intimidation, to the ‘I don’t give a damn’ attitude. But there is one person, thankfully, who taught me some life lessons in leading a business team that I’ll never forget.

A Contagious Attitude

My experience in broadcasting started out doing all-night radio, as did most rookies in the 70′s. Five years later, I was the assistant, then program manager at a smaller broadcast outlet where I was responsible for the week-to-week on-air shifting. I helped select new employees, as we needed them. My first station manager there was a gem that was able to get the very best out of all of us. It was a fun place to work and a lot of us were smiling a lot of the time. This infectious attitude started with him. He loved his work, exuded a passion for it and brought out the best in others. He was not afraid to delegate. You knew if you messed up, you would hear about it, but not in front of others⎯in his office where in a stern but compassionate manner, he got you back on track.

Then came the buy-out to a large broadcast conglomerate and a completely different mindset kicked into gear. Gone was the intimacy, the team concept. That is when I became aware of the ‘cover yourself’ attitude and protecting jobs became the order of the day. I soon discovered that when employees lose sight of why they are doing their work, that’s exactly what it becomes♦work.

What makes a good manager?

So, what makes a good manager? Some say attitude, knowledge, perhaps compassion, strength and maybe charisma.

Leads by Example. Firstly, a manager’s ability to ‘do as I do’ goes a long way. Great managers exude confidence and lead by example. Knowing where the company is going (which is the road map or mission statement) helps employees find their niche.

Encourages Employees. Another asset of a good manager is to encourage employees to continually do their best, while having the ability to troubleshoot and make snap decisions on the line without having to wait for assistance. Employees understand that a good manager will also stand behind them and know that the customer is not always right

Has Basic Goodness. Honesty, integrity and straight-forwardness are other elements that factor into this. When I left broadcasting to enter the world of auto sales, I received a rude introduction into that industry. At my first Monday morning sales meeting, the manager came said to us rookies, “When that customer comes onto the lot, you will grab him and you won’t let him go until you’ve sold him something. And then we’ll turn him upside down and shake every nickel out of his pockets. Welcome to car sales.” I remember the blood draining from my face and thought to myself, “I’ve just made the worst decision in my life.”

Earns Respect. There is a big difference between being someone with power and a ‘great’ manager. The great ones have earned the respect of the workforce. When a manager is grounded in good principles, he or she recognizes that underlings who are high producers are not a threat. Each person has an ego, and regular inflation of that will go a long way in producing results. Like a tire, when it’s out of air, it’s useless.

Managing A Solo Company

Managing my own real estate business has allowed me to practice all of the above principals. Even though I’m a company of one, every element comes in to play. I must be patient, firm, flexible, compassionate, passionate, emotional, stern, diligent, picky, loose, informed (and the list goes on).

It will be interesting to see what happens to management practices now that we’re firmly in a worldwide recession. With millions of jobs being shed globally, will management by fear and intimidation rear its ugly head again as business owners and managers now have stacks of job applications on their desks?

The human animal is an interesting species. Sometimes we learn from our experiences, other times a baseball bat to the side of our heads still doesn’t get our attention. I wouldn’t hold my breath.