Baby and bathwater

There’s a trend going on to reject managers and management, the latest being Zappos, a subsidiary of Amazon.  And fair enough when we get definitions of ‘manage’ that read like this:

“To direct or control the use of”
“To have control of…” 

I’m pretty sure you’re like me in that you don’t like being controlled.  Or used.  Or commanded for that matter.   So if we get too much of this, we leave, or even worse, just show up with a blank stare and look forward to lunch.

No wonder management has a bad name, and it’s enabler – hierarchy.

But here’s what I do like when I’m working.  I like it when there’s someone that knows me who is able to give me perspective and context for what I’m doing.  Who can explain to me why something matters.  Who can give me assurance that what I’m trying to get done will actually fit in to the bigger plan.

And, if I run into difficulties, knows how to ask me the right questions so I can find my way back on track.  If I head off track, will point this out so I don’t end up in the wrong spot.

I’d also like to have someone who, from time-to-time, can walk me back through my last few months and revisit the times when I did great, when I did not so great, and point out any patterns that I need to think about.

The above is what management really is.  Creating context for people then adding value.  And this shouldn’t be rejected.

So why don’t managers do this?  Among the various reasons I discover, the one that stands out the most:

 They’ve never been told that this is what management is about!

Seem simple?  It is.  But remember, simple does not mean easy.