Syed Ali
Random Thoughts
Management
Managing with a purpose
I often get asked what are the qualities of a good manager versus a not so good manager. I once took a management training class, and I am summarizing some of the things I learnt in it.
A “good” manager has the following qualities:
Visionary
A visionary sees possibilities where others see obstacles. A visionary positively influences others around him and consistently sets short term and long term objectives. A visionary is a powerhouse of new ideas and brings passion to work everyday. Being committed is a very important part of being a visionary. Thinking influences behavior and a visionary’s behavior directly influences the teams performance. Above all a visionary can translate vision into actions.
Catalyst
A catalyst is an enabler who can remove obstacles. A catalyst is often described as “authentic”. A catalyst is not afraid to make unpopular decisions and has the courage to put forward new ideas. A catalyst strives for the highest qualities and bring a sense of urgency to the business. A catalyst will “walk the walk” and not “talk the walk”.
Coach
A good coach embraces feedback, both giving and receiving. A good coach believes in others and their ability to grow. A good coach sees strength and is a versatile listener. A coach can shift the thinking of others positively. A good coach is able to motivate others and inspire others. A good coach has a high level of trust. Last but not the least a good coach and help people reach their full potential.
A not so good manager has the following qualities:
Adversary
An adversary has trouble admitting that he is wrong, does not like to receive feedback and must maintain control. He blames others directly and rarely admits to making a mistake. If negative feedback is given he feels that it’s the other persons problem.
Rescuer
A rescuer takes on responsibilities for others. He does not tell others what he is really thinking and pretends to be someone else other than who he is. A rescuer feels that he is taken advantage of and waits to see if a situation will miraculously resolve itself.
Victim
A victim is resigned to the world around him, and feels powerless to make a change. A victim blames others and does not feel appreciated. A victim is not willing to try new things because he does not believe that he will succeed. A victim is self-critical, self-doubting and feels that opportunities are passing by him.
I am a Linux Site Reliability Engineering leader (SRE), with a focus on cloud platforms, virtualization, automation, and a wide range of other Unix infrastructure tools. You can reach me at alicsyed@gmail.com.
