The unemployed perfect manager

Posted on June 24, 2009 by Tom

Sometimes the greatest insights come from places you really don’t expect it.  Not that this one will blow your mind away or will have a TED-spinoff.  It’s just that sometimes people are in such a hurry to get the job done that they don’t think about what they already know.  Even if you’re only 24, you have tons of experience!

whos-needed-anyway

The great thing about these moments is that you have to be aware that they can happen at anytime, at any place.  You don’t have to go to every networking event, speak to every industry insider you know or have weekly brainstormsessions.  Just keeping your eyes and ears (!) is enough.  The place, a hotellounge in Amsterdam.  The foods and beveragemanager said to one of his waiters something like: “When will you finally get how we work around here?”

He was frustrated, obviously since he was screaming rather loud, but he wasn’t angry at the employee.  It’s a small difference but it’s there.  He was frustrated that he failed to put the right guy in the right spot.  Nothing more.  The employee looked like he was trying, he wasn’t lazy, he listened, was friendly and frankly made one of the best mojito’s I’ve tasted.  But his manager has another vision of what should be in his mind. 

The best manager is one that doesn’t do anything!  Or to be more specific, one that doesn’t have to do anything.  It’s the perfect picture, find the right people to do the job.  When that moment comes, you don’t have to do anything anymore, you’re done.  In fact the perfect manager is probably one that makes himself obsolete.  Maybe that explains the success of consultants or interim managers these days.

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  • Nice information regarding the poistion of a manager. It's a refreshing take and certainly thought provactive. Perfect manager? Far fetch...
  • Mai
    The perfect manager exists, but they are as hard to find than the creative and resourceful employee. Someone that will positively evaluate someone and see its potential, then trust this person to do a good job. Sometimes they alsoo make the right choice, but cannot help being constantly present on the spot (fear to be eclipsed or not being able to let go...) Managing is a tough job, a learning process that takes time also...but I do agree, a good manager should be invisible, unless there is real trouble! but that is also one of the wonderful skill, being able to be looked up to when there is a real problem and find the solution, with discretation and without blame.
  • Unfortunately it's not that easy to find the right/perfect people. Nobody's perfect, and a lot of people don't even come close. Not that one's asked to be perfect, one usually just has to be good (enough).
  • Sometimes I reckon it's just a matter of putting people in the right spot. They might not be perfect, there may be tons of people who can do a better job. But when out of all your employees he's the best one to do that job, maybe you're already halfway there.

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting
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