I’ve had every type of boss and/or manager out there. In 12 years I’ve had over 15 managers. They range from great to absolutely awful. Some of my managers really stand out as fantastic mentors. Others, were as useless as a bicycle to a person in a wheelchair. Having talked with many colleagues about their experiences with managers, I think every boss/manager can be put into 1 of 3 buckets.
- Discipline Expert: This person knows everything about everything when it comes to the area they are managing. If they are managing a group of developers, he/she knows all the code languages in and out, there isn’t a question they can’t answer, and they are generally viewed as the guru. Bill Parcels and Colin Powell are great examples of this type of boss. These guys know everything there is to know about their respective sports. There’s a reason they’ve been around as long as they have been and continually in leadership roles.
- People Person: This type of manager excels at managing people in general. They may not know everything there is to know about accounting, but dammit if they aren’t able to effectively manage a department well. Work gets done on time, on budget, and the team is generally content. Keep in mind content doesn’t mean happy or ecstatic. It just means content. The People Person does a great job of managing egos and personalities very well. They have calming influence. When I think of this type of manager I think of Phil Jackson or Joe Torre.
- The Fossil: I’ve always been split on the fossil. The fossil is the person who has been around long enough to warrant the role. They aren’t a discipline expert and they man not even be good with people. However, they’ve “paid their dues” and as such are deserving of the role. Often times, the fossil knows how to work the system. After all they’ve been around long enough to have probably helped invent the system
I generally believe that fossils are the worst type of boss. They rarely inspire their teams and aren’t considered deserving of their role/title.
I’m sure there are other types of bosses out there. One that comes to mind is “The Buddy.” You know who the buddy is. They are the person who was hired and/or placed into a role because they are buddies with someone. These people generally are the worst of the worst and can really screw up an organization because everyone knows they weren’t hired for their skill, management savvy, or their history. These folks also cast a negative shadow on the bosses/people who hired them. It shows that they care more about their friends than they do the company.
If you’ve got thoughts, feel free to share them.
Head of Social Media at Walgreens. Interactive marketer, innovator, boat rocker, continuous learner, movie lover, risk taker, dad and all around good guy. I'm always up for a spirited conversation. These are my thoughts and ramblings, not those of my employer.
