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Change for the better.

Article Excerpt
Today, it seems, everyone is striving to be the employer of choice and to create a highly participative environment to maximize profits and operating efficiency. Read enough of the popular press and you might begin to believe that this is the only acceptable approach to management. I beg to differ and offer the following for your consideration.

Almost every employee is different from every other. Likewise, corporate cultures vary greatly. And each of us as a manager has a preferred way of managing. With these key business elements varying so much, how can one management approach be right for everyone? Obviously, it can't.

Employees are individuals

All employees are different and prefer to be managed differently (within some general parameters). Some employees want to be told exactly what to do and when to do it and will wait to be told before moving on to the next task. Others want to be told what the desired outcome is and then determine not only how to achieve the desired result but also the time frame for that action. There is a significant difference at these extremes, and there are a multitude of variations and permutations in the continuum.

In general terms, every business is also different, albeit some industry generalizations can apply For example, assembly line manufacturing, petroleum refining, and chemical processing operations are probably best suited to employees who like to be told what to do and when to do it. The other extreme may be characterized by functions such as software development, firefighting, or health care management -- and entails work best carried out by employees who like to function in a team and who want to share ideas for improving operations.

While each of us as a manager will proclaim that we use a flexible style that we tailor to the individual employee in each unique situation, I suggest that each of us has an underlying style that we prefer and to which we revert when a crisis occurs. Some of us like to give orders and expect compliance, while others may be even more controlling and closely monitor our employees' progress. Still others prefer the collaborative approach where the assignment is shared with everyone involved and a group decision is made about how to move forward.

With the limits of these key elements defined -- employees, culture, and managers -- we...