A Tale of Two Managers
These two managers could not possibly be more diametrically opposed; they simply approach their jobs differently. Despite the myriad differences in the way they talk/dress/carry themselves, the biggest difference I see between them is how they interact with the people they manage.
The first manager is progressive: he learns about new technologies, he listens to those underneath him, he wants to know how your weekend went, and he’s always willing to take a chance on something new. The second manager is anything but progressive: he subscribes to a CYA mentality, he thinks his way is “the right way”, he rarely listens to those beneath him, doesn’t want to learn anything new, and you’ll only see him if you’ve done something wrong.
I highlight these different managing styles because in the long term, managers are only as effective as they are inspiring. An effective manager is one who inspires you to learn something new, try a different approach, or even helps you solve a difficult problem. The ineffective managers typically “inspire” through fear. It may get the job done, but ultimately, no one wants to go the extra mile for an asshole. And getting your people to go the extra mile when it’s needed most is what being an effective manager is all about.
