AboutJoan Schramm Expertise I can answer questions about handling difficult bosses or co-workers, motivation, team-building, and just getting along in an organization. I am also an expert on conflict resolution and communication as well as other issues dealing with business relationships.
Experience Joan is a professional Coach and the founder of Momentum Coaching, www.achieve-momentum.com. Her experience is from over twenty-five years of business leadership, training and coaching.
Organizations Coach Training Alliance, Coachville, Attractionville, 247 Coaching, Solo-E
Publications Many of my articles have appeared in local newspapers and online at sites like www.ezines.com, www.marketingseek.com, www.articlecity.com, www.exactseek.com and others.
Education/Credentials BS in English
MS in Human Resource Management
Certified Coach through the Coach Training Alliance
Expert: Joan Schramm Date: 1/27/2008 Subject: Management style
Question I am a Assistant Coordinator soon to be a Assistant Manager. This is only a title adjustment. I have been an Assistant Cordinator seven years to a Department Manager.I have fought for this adjustment,I have been paid less due to an incorrect title. I can not assist a coordinator when there is no coordinator.
Now the pressure is on, I feel that I am being assessed on everything I say and do.
Question: Must I adopt the same management style as the Dept manager? The Manager micro manages everything,myself as well. I train all staff, let them know what is expected, let them know that it is their responibility to meet their goals, I monitor their productivity. I do this in a calm, respectfull manner . I understand that at times the staff may backslide and I get them back on track.
My managers motto is YOU ARE MANAGEMENT!!! The manager feels that I am too friendly with the staff.That I must separate myself. The manager assesses my facial expressions and tells me when they are unacceptable. The Manager feels that no one should be able to tell what I am thinking.
Answer Linda --
You don't need to adopt the same management style as your boss, but you do need to find a way to work with him or her in the way he or she finds most confortable.
I think the emphasis on facial expressions is ridiculous, but you might consider your manager's view on being too friendly with the staff. Perhaps this manager sees something going on that you're unaware of.
Another possibility, if your manager is a man, is that men and women often have very different management styles. You need to find a way to work within your manager's style (for example, micro-managing you but letting you manage your staff in your own way). One thing that works very well with micro-managers is to anticipate that they will want to know everything and give it to them (almost to the point of excess) before they ask for it. If you start and end each day with a quick brief (either in person or by email) to your manager about what's going on, what's been done, the status of various projects, etc, he or she should eventually begin to calm down a little and give some more latitude.
