Management is tasks. Management is discipline.
But management is also people.
Peter Drucker, Austrian-American management guru
STARTING UP
A. Which of these statements do you agree with? Explain your reasons.
A manager should:
know when your birthday is.
know where you are and what you're doing at all times during working hours.
not criticize or praise.
not interfere in disagreements between members of staff.
not ask people to do things they're not prepared to do themselves.
be available at all times to give staff advice and support.
use polite language at all times.
work longer hours than their staff.
| USEFUL TIPS A skill is the ability to engage in a set of behaviours that are functionally related to one another and that lead to a desired performance level in a given area. | What is management? What are the major functions of a manager? What does a manager need to fulfil these functions? |
B. Discuss with your partner the following characteristics of what makes a good manager. Rank them in order of importance:
q ability to get on well with colleagues
q technical knowledge
q experience of management in different industrial sectors
q ability to make people laugh
q willingness to work up to 60 hours a week
q confidence in making decisions
q concern for well-being of every employee from the top to the bottom of an organization
q ability to understand details of company activity
q ability to plan and understand corporate objectives
q knowledge of the world
q highly educated and cultured individual with wide range of personal interests
q commitment to making money
q stable health and psychological make-up
q supportive family
q ability to motivate
q ability to delegate
| Can you prove that besides management skills a manager needs a knowledge base? What does a knowledge base include? | USEFUL TIPS A knowledge base is information about an industry and its technology, company policies and practices, company goals, company culture, the personalities of key organization members, important suppliers and customers. |
VOCABULARY
A. Complete column 2 of the table with opposite meanings. Use the prefixes in-, ir-, un-, il- or dis-. Then complete column 3 with the noun forms.
| 1. Adjective | 2. Opposite adjective | 3. Noun form |
| Considerate Creative Decisive Diplomatic Efficient Flexible Inspiring Interested Logical Organised Rational Responsible Sociable Supportive | Inconsiderate | consideration |
B. Choose the four best qualities of a manager from the list above. Then choose the four worst qualities and rank them (1 = worst).
C. Discuss your answers to Exercise B. What other management qualities or weaknesses can you add?
D. Match these pairs of contrasting management styles.
|
|
|
| 1 Autocratic 2 centralising 3 directive 4 empowering 5 hands on 6 task-orientated | a) collaborative b) controlling c) delegating d) democratic e) people-orientated f) laissez-faire |
E. It is difficult to find universal agreement on the specific personality and professional characteristics which make a good manager.
Do you think that the words a manager and a leader imply the same?
Answer the following questions (usually, sometimes, rarely) to find out if you are a natural leader.
q When you know a subordinate is having difficulties with a task, can you resist the temptation to take over immediately?
q Can you stay calm at times of crisis?
q Are you comfortable with change?
q Can you create an atmosphere of enthusiasm among a group of people?
q In the middle of day-to-day problems can you concentrate on future needs?
q Can you discard your own ideas and accept other people's in their place?
q Do you give credit to people for their contributions?
q Can you 'put yourself in someone else's shoes': understand their motivations when they are different from your own?
q Do you have a consistent approach to problems?
q Do you praise other people whenever you can?
q Can you keep a secret?
q Do you set high standards and clear objectives?
q Do you take an interest in other people's lives?
q Can you accept that a subordinate may understand the technical aspects of the job better than you?
q Can you act decisively when time is short?
KEY
Score 2 points for each usually and 1 point for each sometimes.
25-30: a natural leader or a natural liar.
15-24: a safe pair of hands.
0-14: no comment.
