Expectations Of Managers
Posted by Mitch Mitchell on Aug 31, 2007
The latest newsletter is titled Expectation and Criticism. I was thinking about it because every day we expect things to happen in specific ways, and when they don't we inadvertently criticize the situation in some way. Some people pout, cuss, yell, cry, or, if it was good, laugh or smile. The thing is, when those expectations are of others and we react inappropriately, well, the consequences may be bad.
In this regard, I'm pretty much like everyone else. I like life to be ordered in some fashion, and I like to be in control of it as much as possible. Life just doesn't work like that, though, so, like everyone else, I've had to learn how to deal with things like this. As it pertains to people, when I'm right in front of them, I do well. When I'm not, such as driving in my car and having someone cut me off, or do something else stupid, I'll tend to fuss like anyone else (I don't cuss, though).
That works fine in regular daily situations. But when you're a manager or a leader, you just can't go around doing that type of thing all the time. You have to know how to work with people, and how to tell people when they're not living up to expectations. You also have to examine whether your expectations are fair or not; that's not always easy, but it's what you're paid to do.
In the end, things always balance themselves out in some fashion. You just have to hope that your actions end up bringing you the things you really want to occur.
You’re right as a manager you’re in a leadership position and you have to conduct youself as such. It’s a balancing act between making sure the job gets done and motivating people to want to do the job.
You also have to remember that even though you’re you have authority and power you’re still human and should treat others with the same respect you expect from them.
Great comment, Erica, and I’m really sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you on it. That’s what good management is supposed to be about, and definitely not the abuse of authority.