A supervisor finds out from HR that one of his direct reports wants to work for another supervisor in a different division. Knowing this other supervisor and believing himself to be better, he is perplexed and calls the report into his office.
"I don't understand," he says to the report. "I am smarter. Our division has higher revenues. I treat you well - aren't I nice to you?"
"You are very nice to me," says the report.
"Don't I pay you well?" he asks.
"You pay me quite fairly," the report agrees.
"I don't get it, then... why are you talking to this other supervisor - what can he possibly offer that I cannot?" the supervisor asks.
The report responds: "Look, you're right - in some things you are much more accomplished - you have some wonderful strengths. But this other supervisor has capabilities and strengths that are different from yours and matter more to me."
"Like what?" the supervisor challenged.
"Well, he's been teaching me many interesting things - like how to read minds! Would you like me to read yours?"
The supervisor smiles and says, "sure. What am I thinking right now?"
"Give me a second - concentrate - it's hard for me since I am new at this..."
"Okay, I'm focusing..."
"I have it!" the report says . "You are asking yourself, 'How can I help my reports better understand and develop the ability to apply MBM in order to contribute in ways that will maximize the long term profitability of the company.'"
"Ha!! That's not at all what I was thinking!" the supervisor says triumphantly.
"I know," says the report. "And that's why I want to work for the other supervisor."
[I adapted this from a humorous anecdote relayed by Harold S. Kushner in his book, Overcoming Life's Disappointments.]
HA! I love it. So how many people would likely admit that they're the less ideal manager?
Posted by: David McGinnis | 17 September 2007 at 09:36 AM
How many would be aware enough to know that they are the less than ideal manager.
Posted by: Ben | 25 September 2007 at 05:58 AM
Being a supervisor myself, in the UK, i think this is brilliant!
Posted by: Mike Braithwaite | 15 November 2007 at 04:04 PM
Upon reading this, the first thing that came to mind was this article from the November 19th issue of BusinessWeek:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_47/b4059064.htm
To sum up quick, it's about a company in India that, in addition to managers evaluating employees, the employees evaluate their managers, and then those evaluations are posted on the company intranet for anyone to see.
Posted by: Bob Lepanto | 01 February 2008 at 04:46 PM