Comments on: Bad Manager or Flawed Human? http://www.aspire-cs.com/bad-manager-or-flawed-human Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:05:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/bad-manager-or-flawed-human/comment-page-1#comment-726 Mary Jo Asmus Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:25:02 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=833#comment-726 Kelsey, I was waiting for you (or someone with your point of view) to show up at this post! Of course there are bad managers. But my point is really that we all have to take some responsibility for that situation. Oh, and there are lots of good managers too. We just don't seem to get as emotionally worked up about them, and they don't often make the press. Kelsey, I was waiting for you (or someone with your point of view) to show up at this post! Of course there are bad managers. But my point is really that we all have to take some responsibility for that situation.

Oh, and there are lots of good managers too. We just don’t seem to get as emotionally worked up about them, and they don’t often make the press.

]]> By: Kelsey Adams http://www.aspire-cs.com/bad-manager-or-flawed-human/comment-page-1#comment-725 Kelsey Adams Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:42:29 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=833#comment-725 The reality is that there are BAD managers out there. It is not all goodness and light. Even when confronting them and working through HR gets no change in behavior. They continue their bad habits and it does nothing to improve the atittude of their employees. When that bad behavior is noticed by numerous people at all levels of the company and that person is left in place and allowed to continue to poision a department and undermine the people that work for them - it contributes to those "bad boss" stories. Then HR says "most people that leave a company do so becasue of their manager". Nice. That comment really gives the employees that work for the bad boss a warm fuzzy feeling about their place in the overall organization. As luck would have it it looks like that boss may finally be seeing the light. Not becasue that "flawed human" is changing but the company is and now they're scared and have no alliances or freinds on their side to turn to. The reality is that there are BAD managers out there. It is not all goodness and light. Even when confronting them and working through HR gets no change in behavior. They continue their bad habits and it does nothing to improve the atittude of their employees. When that bad behavior is noticed by numerous people at all levels of the company and that person is left in place and allowed to continue to poision a department and undermine the people that work for them – it contributes to those “bad boss” stories.

Then HR says “most people that leave a company do so becasue of their manager”. Nice. That comment really gives the employees that work for the bad boss a warm fuzzy feeling about their place in the overall organization. As luck would have it it looks like that boss may finally be seeing the light. Not becasue that “flawed human” is changing but the company is and now they’re scared and have no alliances or freinds on their side to turn to.

]]> By: David Richards http://www.aspire-cs.com/bad-manager-or-flawed-human/comment-page-1#comment-724 David Richards Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:00:30 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=833#comment-724 I had a bad boss once. He took me to a chineese restaraunt and yelled at me for an hour in front of all those people in the resteraunt. Thank God the rest of the company was a good company and one day, quite unexpectedly, the bad boss was fired. If you wait long enough, good things will happen. David R. I had a bad boss once. He took me to a chineese restaraunt and yelled at me for an hour in front of all those people in the resteraunt. Thank God the rest of the company was a good company and one day, quite unexpectedly, the bad boss was fired. If you wait long enough, good things will happen.

David R.

]]> By: Wally Bock http://www.aspire-cs.com/bad-manager-or-flawed-human/comment-page-1#comment-723 Wally Bock Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:13:22 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=833#comment-723 Congratulations! This post was selected as one of the five best independent business blog posts of the week in my Three Star Leadership Midweek Review of the Business Blogs. http://blog.threestarleadership.com/2010/01/27/12710-a-midweek-look-at-the-independent-business-blogs.aspx Wally Bock Congratulations! This post was selected as one of the five best independent business blog posts of the week in my Three Star Leadership Midweek Review of the Business Blogs.

http://blog.threestarleadership.com/2010/01/27/12710-a-midweek-look-at-the-independent-business-blogs.aspx

Wally Bock

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/bad-manager-or-flawed-human/comment-page-1#comment-722 Mary Jo Asmus Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:52:47 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=833#comment-722 Kelsey, if this helped you to see another perspective, I am pleased! Keep it up! Kelsey, if this helped you to see another perspective, I am pleased! Keep it up!

]]> By: kelsey Anderson http://www.aspire-cs.com/bad-manager-or-flawed-human/comment-page-1#comment-721 kelsey Anderson Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:27:06 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=833#comment-721 Mary Jo, I love your positive perspective. When I was younger, I worked a lot of jobs and had a lot of "bad" bosses. I couldn't help but hate going to work. My attitude was always negative and usually resulted in an outward appearance...people knew I did not want to be there! The reason I love your perspective because it takes the negative out. When one changes their outlook from the beginning it changes their appearance and their eventual actions. Thank you for your outlook! Mary Jo,

I love your positive perspective. When I was younger, I worked a lot of jobs and had a lot of “bad” bosses. I couldn’t help but hate going to work. My attitude was always negative and usually resulted in an outward appearance…people knew I did not want to be there! The reason I love your perspective because it takes the negative out. When one changes their outlook from the beginning it changes their appearance and their eventual actions. Thank you for your outlook!

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/bad-manager-or-flawed-human/comment-page-1#comment-720 Mary Jo Asmus Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:12:55 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=833#comment-720 Eric, the first step is to believe that your manager can change. Leave your judgment behind, and understand that what you have to say to him or her might make a difference. And then read my next post, entitled "Dialog With Your Manager". Eric, the first step is to believe that your manager can change. Leave your judgment behind, and understand that what you have to say to him or her might make a difference. And then read my next post, entitled “Dialog With Your Manager”.

]]> By: Eric Means http://www.aspire-cs.com/bad-manager-or-flawed-human/comment-page-1#comment-719 Eric Means Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:49:47 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=833#comment-719 Mary Jo, Most people have had their share of "bad" managers or "good managers" with flaws. Where do you draw the line at calling a manager good or bad? What if they are unqualified or don't like/ignore feedback, is there a good way to approach that situation even though deep down you know nothing you say will change anything? Are they still just a good manager with flaws? I experienced seeing a manager at a company in CA who used to laugh when he fired someone. People overheard his laughter and discussions directed at the facial expression of the fired employee. I really felt he was a "bad manager" or "bad person" and no other way to describe it. He had no direct effect on me but at the time I did judge. Is it really ok to call him a good manager with flaws? Mary Jo,
Most people have had their share of “bad” managers or “good managers” with flaws. Where do you draw the line at calling a manager good or bad? What if they are unqualified or don’t like/ignore feedback, is there a good way to approach that situation even though deep down you know nothing you say will change anything? Are they still just a good manager with flaws? I experienced seeing a manager at a company in CA who used to laugh when he fired someone. People overheard his laughter and discussions directed at the facial expression of the fired employee. I really felt he was a “bad manager” or “bad person” and no other way to describe it. He had no direct effect on me but at the time I did judge. Is it really ok to call him a good manager with flaws?

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/bad-manager-or-flawed-human/comment-page-1#comment-718 Mary Jo Asmus Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:18:06 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=833#comment-718 Elad, perhaps we should question the belief that it is always the manager's the manager's responsibility to seek out feedback? I too am an advocate of managers asking for such feedback, but isn't it the right thing for employees to provide it even if they aren't asked? I also believe that there are plenty of managers and leaders out there who are in touch with their humanity, through empathy, compassion and other very wonderful human qualities. Sadly, they don't make the news. But they are more plentiful than the latter, I have no doubt. I work with them and run into them every day. Thanks for stopping over and adding your thoughts to the conversation. Susan, thanks. The problem comes in, I believe, when we do not take responsibility for change - in the boss or in the system. We should always be asking ourselves "what can I do"? and sometimes that means being courageous even when we feel powerless. Jennifer, thanks for stopping back and adding some additional thoughts to this rich conversation! Elad, perhaps we should question the belief that it is always the manager’s the manager’s responsibility to seek out feedback? I too am an advocate of managers asking for such feedback, but isn’t it the right thing for employees to provide it even if they aren’t asked?

I also believe that there are plenty of managers and leaders out there who are in touch with their humanity, through empathy, compassion and other very wonderful human qualities. Sadly, they don’t make the news. But they are more plentiful than the latter, I have no doubt. I work with them and run into them every day. Thanks for stopping over and adding your thoughts to the conversation.

Susan, thanks. The problem comes in, I believe, when we do not take responsibility for change – in the boss or in the system. We should always be asking ourselves “what can I do”? and sometimes that means being courageous even when we feel powerless.

Jennifer, thanks for stopping back and adding some additional thoughts to this rich conversation!

]]> By: Jennifer V. Miller http://www.aspire-cs.com/bad-manager-or-flawed-human/comment-page-1#comment-717 Jennifer V. Miller Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:07:55 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=833#comment-717 Beautifully said, Susan! This discussion has me caught in the cross hairs: my philosophical self (in line with Mary Jo) is warring with my practical self. In my view, people have more pressing realities (making rent, feeding kids) than the need to help their boss "grow". I agree that all workers regardless of their role should take ownership in making the workplace a productive and relationally sound gig. I also believe that for many people, taking that stepping up and giving 1-1 feedback is a risk that most likely will not pay off for them-- UNLESS they have an already established, positive, open relationship with their boss. At any rate, it feels like we've gotten away from the central theme of your post which is acknowledging that "the boss" is human, is prone to mistakes and can't improve unless they are given feedback to help him/her do so. And this is a theme I completely support. You say "more" tomorrow....so I look forward to the continued discussion! Beautifully said, Susan!

This discussion has me caught in the cross hairs: my philosophical self (in line with Mary Jo) is warring with my practical self.

In my view, people have more pressing realities (making rent, feeding kids) than the need to help their boss “grow”. I agree that all workers regardless of their role should take ownership in making the workplace a productive and relationally sound gig.

I also believe that for many people, taking that stepping up and giving 1-1 feedback is a risk that most likely will not pay off for them– UNLESS they have an already established, positive, open relationship with their boss.

At any rate, it feels like we’ve gotten away from the central theme of your post which is acknowledging that “the boss” is human, is prone to mistakes and can’t improve unless they are given feedback to help him/her do so. And this is a theme I completely support.

You say “more” tomorrow….so I look forward to the continued discussion!

]]>