middle management

[Sasperilla]

Someone once told me that in the case of people who WANT to be managers, this should automatically disqualify them from being one.

 

So true...

 

Why are the majority of managers talentless fools who get on off on having a little weeny bit of power to throw around?

 

Beats me!

[Blackfrost]

I find that some of the worst masochistic male managers are the ones whose wives at home run their lives and make them do as they're told in every aspect of homelife. These guys come to work, and immediately start acting like tyrant @ssholes, because it's the only place they have, where they feel like they are in charge.

 

I don't know what the women managers problems are, but it's usually real obvious with the males that they either have short man syndrome or they're castrated at home.

[amerikajin]

Interesting theory, blackfrost. I don't know if it's so much being castrated at home (although it could be part of it); rather, I tend to think that these are deeper issues related to self-image. They're probably what we'd call 'geeks' in general, so they get their first taste of power and they use it to lash out at people. In their eyes, it's the only way they'll ever be able to even the score.

 

On the other hand, I know some guys that aren't necessarily geeky; they're just overly dominant alpha male jerks. In their eyes, it's by nature's design that they be in charge.

[Outcast]

Why are the majority of managers talentless fools who get on off on having a little weeny bit of power to throw around?

 

The Peter Principle.

 

I don't know what the women managers problems are, but it's usually real obvious with the males that they either have short man syndrome or they're castrated at home

 

Oh that's interesting. It's not possible for them to just be individuals who are incompetent? No, women have to be blamed.

[Blackfrost]

I'm not blaming the women in a couple of my managers lives for being strong ladies. I'm blaming the men who use their inner frustrations from these situations to batter their employees as their outlet to their own lack of self.

 

My theories derive mostly from two particular managers I've had (one in the past, and one current) who endlessly complain about their homelives and chosen wives, how frustrated and angry they are, but yet they are not strong enough to stand up and operate on equal ground with their spouses. That kind of angst has definitely come out in both their management styles - and hence they both have undergone relatively heavy employee turnover rates, due to their lack of honest and respectful management tact.

[westernxer]

I hear you, Blackfrost. I've seen this, too.

 

I guess middle managers are chosen because they lack the courage to question company directives that make things more complicated than they should be. They're great at bending over for their superiors without a gripe or groan, but when it comes to accommodating the people who make them look good on a daily basis, they refuse to unzip.

 

Cynical but truthful, based on personal observation. I left two companies due, in part, to ineffectual middle management, and I'd do it again. My current job is good so far, mostly because my boss will apologize when he makes a mistake. Even more valuable is the fact he admits he's not a great communicator. But he's focused on getting things done in a timely and efficient manner, and will step to the plate when needed. That's what I admire most.

[Outcast]

My theories derive mostly from two particular managers I've had

 

Admittedly not a scientifically accurate sample size.

 

I'm blaming the men who use their inner frustrations from these situations to batter their employees as their outlet to their own lack of self.

 

Well let's flip that. If they weren't ineffective and incompetent, they could manage all relationships well. Their 'frustrations' result from their own issues. Therefore it has nothing to do with the marriages but rather the marriages are as symbolic of their inabilty to function effectively as are their work relationships.

[alphamale]

alpha male jerks.

[icucnme]

I find that some of the worst masochistic male managers are the ones whose wives at home run their lives and make them do as they're told in every aspect of homelife. These guys come to work, and immediately start acting like tyrant @ssholes, because it's the only place they have, where they feel like they are in charge.

 

I don't know what the women managers problems are, but it's usually real obvious with the males that they either have short man syndrome or they're castrated at home.

 

I don't think I could of said this any better. You hit it right on the nail for men who come to the job place and act like WARDENS don't have any control at home. BUT the WOMEN who come to work and act like your worst NIGHTMARE..usually have one or two things going on at home... #1 they are miserable at home with no man and are overweight or #2 they ain't getting none so they have all that built up frustration with no relase outlet...except at the work place !!! Then thats when we ALL get the tail end of a womens "flurry" !!!

[Sasperilla]

Here's another thing - what's with the stupid phrases and 'buzz words'. Why do they DO that????!!!

 

Example:

 

It's a level playing field.

It's time to boogie.

He's 'just not a team player'

 

And the abbreviations:

 

So it's for DDP to come up with the good for the FDRAC so we can get down to brass tack and pull for the OUP.

 

Why do they do it? And doesn't it just make you want to punch them?

[Outcast]

And the abbreviations:

 

So it's for DDP to come up with the good for the FDRAC so we can get down to brass tack and pull for the OUP.

 

It's all to make discussion easier. People get sick of using the words that the acronyms represent because they're a mouthful and they get sick of saying them over and over.

 

It's a level playing field.

It's time to boogie.

He's 'just not a team player'

 

Idioms. Again, ways to liven up the language instead of using the same old words to mean the same old thing. Of course the idioms get worn out eventually, but we can always count on the media or new business gurus to come up with new ways to enhance the language.

[Blackfrost]

Idioms. Again, ways to liven up the language instead of using the same old words to mean the same old thing. Of course the idioms get worn out eventually, but we can always count on the media or new business gurus to come up with new ways to enhance the language.

 

I can't begin to tell you, in how many situations, that this is sooo not true. Many business people uses convoluted idioms and buzz words to sound intelligent, without actually getting to any real point, of which they could be held accountable for making an actual decision. Spin: Too use the perfect buzz word to describe these parasites. Politicians are the masters of spin, and can say so many things that sound so intelligent, yet through careful analysis, you find that they really didn't say anything of any tangible quality at all. Here's a few new ones that I've heard lately, for you to add to your repetoire Outcast:

 

conveniently customize revolutionary potentialities

 

enthusiastically disseminate backward-compatible outsourcing

 

synergistically cultivate cross-unit expertise

 

holisticly impact stand-alone data

 

interactively actualize market positioning infrastructures

[westernxer]

Many business people uses convoluted idioms and buzz words to sound intelligent, without actually getting to any real point...

 

I couldn't agree with you more. I can't tell you how many times I heard this type of jargon at my old job... makes me nauseous to this day.

[ButtonPusher]

Anyone else get the feeling that outcast is a middle manager?

 

In my experience though, all the managers I've had have been pretty decent people. Perhaps its a cultural thing with you americans.

[Outcast]

I wasn't talking about bafflegab, gents. I was talking about acronyms and idioms. Bafflegab is annoying. The one that drove me absolutely nuts was one place which couldn't use the perfectly good word 'done' to mean 'done' as in, you know, finished, completed, end. Nooooooo. You were obliged to use 'actioned'.

 

I am pro acronym because it saves syllables; clearly bafflegab does the exact opposite and I ain't a fan of that!

[SilentPrayer]

I have had the position as Office Manager once. I didn't really want the job but I decided to give it a shot.

After I did I noticed I did get more respect but it only made me want to respect my staff more as well. It's like a 50/50 marriage I think.

 

You pull and I will push. You cry and I pat your back. You in turn do so for me.

 

I don't know I always thought I did a great job as a manager. Even though I was younger then all of my staff, I still demanded respect and got it fast. I no longer had a problem after that.

 

I am an overachiever~ by nature. I guess?

 

I don't know. I think I'm ok @ that position but I agree. Anyone who wants to be a manager should not be one.