How do you become a good manager? do you have to be ruthless to gain respect?

Question

I'm very flexible..and approachable.. I don't like putting down people, i try to get their better sides, encourage them to encourage their effectiveness.. but there are a few who take advantage. My boss says I'm too weak, she says I need to be more "ruthless" to gain the respect.. what do you think?

Answer 1

I think when you treat people like people, and don't degrade them, or talk condescending, that is how you gain respect. There are times when certain people will take advantage, but you'll get to a place where there is a pattern and if it is always with certain people, you may have to be a little hard -nosed with them.

I've also always been told, that you never expect those your leading to do things that you yourself would not do. For example, if they see "management" picking up a piece of trash on the floor instead of walking over it and acting like it's not there, that tells them that you care about the workplace and will earn you more respect than stepping over it and asking a "peon" or newbie to pick it up. Hope that makes sense.

Ruthless managers won't keep employees for very long. It does nothing but add stress to everyone's lives. Yours as well as the employees. You don't want people to hate coming to work. You want the work environment to be pleasant because this will help with employee productivity and longevity. Less turnover means less training dollars. It sucks to spend the time, money and energy training some one for a position only to have them turn around 2 weeks or 4 weeks later and say this isn't the job for them. I'd recommend the book "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" by John Maxwell. Very, very good stuff. Would help anyone in management or in any type of supervisory type roll.

Another "tool" that might help is learning about personality profiles. Some personality types respond to different leadership styles better than others. If you know that certain ones you're managing have a certain personality type, you can learn to adjust how you deal with those particular personalities. Hope this helps....Good luck!

Answer 2

I think being in a higher management level, the most tricky part would be human relationships.
I have a colleague who's from managerial level. She was sort of 'ruthless' and insists the people in the office to work in her way, may it be the wrong or correct way.
The folks in the office do not respect her at all, even though no one makes noise about her.

I think there should be a more appropriate way of approach, which could improve better working abilities and relationships in the office.

Your method of approach is most acceptable by the staff. But for those black sheeps, maybe i would suggest you have a serious talk to them, where you could emphasize that you are not abusing your authority, and that you hope to improve their working attitudes by talking it over with them.

By 'ruthless', would only attract more gossips, and also, you will end up 'forcing' respect to you, instead of 'earning' respect.

Answer 3

A good manager shows their team members how they can succeed better. A good manager is able to teach those under them how to be better. The ruthless method works for some but at the end of the day, do you want to be known as the #*$(# or someone that people can truly look up to, respect, and admire.

Answer 4

Are you talking about being a good Manager or a good leader ? They are 2 different things (although they are often the same person).

To Manage work, you need to plan a strategy, that allows for successful completion within budget and by the estimated completion date. Being a good leader means motivating your staff, to make the extra effort to get the work done. But leadership is also about developing your team to make them greater assets.

Being ruthless is not how to achieve results. You need to provide your staff with timely accurate & clear feedback. If they are not getting the job done to your satisfaction - tell them, but you don't have to be mean - just tell them that their performance is unacceptable & must change. Find out if they have problems in or outside work, try to see if you can resolve any of their problems.

NOTE: TIP give bad feedback in private, but give praise in public. That's how you show the rest of the team, what you want from them.

Answer 5

i think you have just about all the qualities of a good boss, but being ruthless is NOT how you gain respect. it sounds like you already know that. maybe what she really should say is, as nice as you can be, sometimes you need to be a little hard. but never ruthless! being ruthless makes people dislike you, not respect you! just keep doing what your doing, just sometimes when it is warranted, be a little tough. being a boss means that sometimes you have to be the bad guy.

Answer 6

Here are some tips:

Lead by example.
Treat others with respect.
Maintain 2 ways conversations that are open and honest.
Focus on the situation or the behavior, not the person.

And, you gotta get along with people even if you don't want to.

Do these things and you can build yourself into a great manager.

Answer 7

You can be friendly to the employees without letting them take advantage. If you feel like someone is taking advantage of you set them straight on it. Just let them know that your not a push over. You don't have to be ruthless, just be honest.

Answer 8

Those that take advantage, be selectively ruthless...sit them down and call them on it. Tell them no more. Those that are good, be your usual self towards them.