Discipline makes Daring possible.

Musings from The Disappearing Boss on People, Process and Responsible Autonomy for small-business employers.

Month: October 2022

Definitions of management
October 5, 2022

Definitions of management

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.

A watched pot
October 4, 2022

A watched pot

Decades ago, my older brothers were given the job of breaking up concrete in the back garden so my dad could lay a new patio.

They did a morning’s work, had lunch and started again in the afternoon.   After an hour or so, my mum thought “They’ve been at it a while, I better see if they need a cup of tea.”

Then walked into the breakfast room to find nothing but a cassette player running.

They’d carefully recorded themselves in the morning so they could bunk off in the afternoon.

 

Corporate Rebels shared a Bloomberg article today:

“More than two years after remote work and hybrid jobs became widespread, there’s still a stark divide over how it’s going: About 85% of managers worry they can’t tell if employees are getting enough done, while 87% of workers say their productivity is just fine.”

With this admonition from Microsoft: “Don’t Spy on Employees to Ensure They’re Working,“

This is the 21st century for goodness sake.

Have we not learned to measure results rather than “activity”?

I can’t help thinking it’s management that needs an overhaul.

 

 

Hint: If you’re a micro-business employer I can help you with that.

Dogma
October 3, 2022

Dogma

Dogma: a belief or set of beliefs that is accepted by the members of a group without being questioned or doubted.

As a boss, in a moment of frustration,  you may feel that this is what you want.   And if you lock all decision-making into your systems and processes, you’ll get it.

Dogma scales, but it doesn’t evolve, and it frequently gets subverted.   If ‘computer says no‘ to often for my liking, I might just stop asking the computer.

If you want your business to outlast you and retain your vision, it’s better to create space for dissent, debate and experiment.   After all, dissent, debate and experiments are where discovery originates.

Use your systems and processes to create a floor that defines the minimum experience.    Guide your people with a small number of big principles.  Then let them spread the word in their own way.

You never know, you might just found a new religion.