What is management?
Here are a few answers, found on my Ecosia search this morning:
- “the coordination and administration of tasks to achieve a goal through the application of available resources” (Indeed)
- “the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a non-profit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.” (Wikipedia)
- “the art of creating an environment in which people can perform and individuals and can co-operate towards attainment of group goals” (Harold Koontz)
None of these definitions presuppose that ‘management’ can only be carried out by a few people, or even just one person. So why do we assume that hierarchy or even dictatorship is the natural shape of management?
Perhaps because this definition of management comes top of the search results:
- “the process of dealing with or controlling things or people.” (Oxford Languages)
I don’t know about you, but I prefer Harold Koontz’s version.
I am not a thing. I am a human being. I control myself, thank you very much.