Good Boss Versus Bad Boss
I recently worked with a client, a seasoned professional, who was contemplating his next move after being laid off. He was what I would describe as middle management – not an entry-level manager and not in the same realm as the executives. As we started to strategize his job search, I found that a lot of our conversation began to revolve around management styles and tactics.
Back in my recruiting days, I would recruit for management positions on a daily basis. I would ask a variety of questions to candidates, depending on my client’s needs. Invariably, I would always ask the candidate several basic management related questions:
- In a work setting, what does the word management mean to you? How would you define management?
- How would you describe your management style?
- How would your previous employees describe your management style?
Granted, these are pretty simple questions for someone who has been an experienced manager, and each candidate should fly through this part of the interview. But you would be surprised by how many candidates would struggle with at least one of these questions. And these are just the basic questions, not including any that I may have prepared specifically for the job.
Each candidate would have his or her own way of answering each question. While basic, it can be somewhat revealing. I could start to get a read on who this person was, and perhaps what their personality is like. At the very least, they are good warm-up questions that may open to more questions.
Why would I write about management style?
First, I think it is good for any job seeker to think about this in any job search. Every employee must know how to get along with others in the company. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you must seek out your coworkers on your own personal time, but you must be able to not only coexist, but flourish in that work environment.
The number one reason why people leave or get fired is because people oftentimes cannot get along with one another. An employee hates his/her boss, so that person leaves for another job. Or the boss does not work well with an employee, and that employee is laid off during the next round of layoffs. Whatever the reason may be, employees need to coexist, be productive, and work towards a common set of goals for the sake of the company.
Second, I think it is a good idea to understand some of the realities managers face when overseeing a staff of employees. While you may not have “walked in the manager’s shoes for a mile,” insight will definitely help you connect and understand your future supervisor, especially in a corporate environment.
If rapid advancement or longevity in your career is in your plans, it is a good idea to be on the same page as your supervisors and others. By understanding your boss, you will be more likely to work towards a common set of goals and achieve better as a team. Better production is better for you, and makes your boss look good. You are in a much better position to receive kudos, recommendations, raises, bonuses, and promotions when you can make those above you look good.
Third, I think it is also good for job seekers to be aware of the different management styles and personalities, as it may increase your awareness of your own personality and management preference. Having a concrete self-awareness will help you make more informed career and job decisions. An understanding of how you work, and being able to diagnose how others around you work, will aid in creating a productive working relationship with those around you, including your boss(es).
The reality is that most people work 40 hours a week or more. You might as well be diligent about finding the right environment and being adaptable to a changing environment so that you can remain happy!
Incidentally, I recently read an article in the Harvard Business Review by Robert Sutton, author of The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t and a professor of Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University. From his experience, Sutton writes about some common themes that he finds with good managers. It is definitely worth a read.