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Well I am glad you are not down voting just because you don’t agree with me :) I am not sure where I suggested that a manager is supposed to be there for the e

Well I am glad you are not down voting just because you don’t agree with me :) I am not sure where I suggested that a manager is supposed to be there for the employees benefit - the role of the manager is to maximize the performance of the employee and team. I also didn’t suggest their role is to mother or being a friend either (although being a friend can help). The major job of a manager is to ensure translation of business objectives into output that is directed towards the end goal. You might think you understand exactly what your job is, but it is exceptionally common for people to not really know what the company is working towards and exactly what management wants them to do, or what is important (to the company). This is not a failing of anyone, but just a consequence of incomplete information. Vice versa it is also very common with hands off (or too busy managers) to not know what the blocks or distractions are that are impeding progress. The whole situation becomes even more fraught when the business objectives are fluid and changing. The only way to achieve the business objectives is to spend time making sure the information flows happen and problems are solved. I wish there was another way as it is incredibly time consuming.

mmatants 11y ago
I really like the philosophy you describe. It pains me to see folks disenfranchised from the concept of real teamwork. Isn't the whole point to be working with each other? Even if the person is signing my paycheque, they are still another human tackling the same general problem as I am. Easier said than done, because of course there are bad managers out there. But even in difficult situations it can sometimes help to try "manage up" - again, the value-building and the mission is bigger than any one person.
rorykoehler 11y ago
> it is exceptionally common for people to not really know what the company is working towards and exactly what management wants them to do This is exactly the phenomenon I am referring to in my comment (see sister comment on this thread level). Often no one know what management wants them to do including management themselves. The end goal is clear but how to best get there is anyones guess.
- danieltillett 11y ago
  Yes this is true. One of the great things about having a lot of direct communication is management gets feedback from employees towards the right strategies.
- teamonkey 11y ago
  > The end goal is clear but how to best get there is anyones guess. Surely it's the job of the team to work out how to get there? As the article states, managers are/should be facilitators, not necessarily the experts.
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mmatants 11y ago

I really like the philosophy you describe. It pains me to see folks disenfranchised from the concept of real teamwork. Isn't the whole point to be working with each other? Even if the person is signing my paycheque, they are still another human tackling the same general problem as I am. Easier said than done, because of course there are bad managers out there. But even in difficult situations it can sometimes help to try "manage up" - again, the value-building and the mission is bigger than any one person.

rorykoehler 11y ago

> it is exceptionally common for people to not really know what the company is working towards and exactly what management wants them to do This is exactly the phenomenon I am referring to in my comment (see sister comment on this thread level). Often no one know what management wants them to do including management themselves. The end goal is clear but how to best get there is anyones guess.

danieltillett 11y ago
Yes this is true. One of the great things about having a lot of direct communication is management gets feedback from employees towards the right strategies.
teamonkey 11y ago
> The end goal is clear but how to best get there is anyones guess. Surely it's the job of the team to work out how to get there? As the article states, managers are/should be facilitators, not necessarily the experts.

deleted 11y ago

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