Dimensions of Management
In my 40+ years of employment, I’ve came across every type of boss, from the inspiring to the insipid. I’ve come to appreciate what makes the best and worst managers.
There are several dimensions to management but I’m going to focus on two: work ethic and intelligence. I’ve experienced every combination of these attributes. Some bosses were hard working and smart, some lazy and smart, some hard working and stupid, and some lazy and stupid. If you ask most people what combination is the best and worst, the usual answer is that smart/hard working is best, and stupid/lazy is worst. I’m here to disagree.
These attributes can be visualised in two dimensions as follows.
The top right quadrant represents smart, hard working managers; bottom right represents stupid, hard working; bottom left lazy and stupid; and top left lazy and smart. Before we look at each combination, let me explain the yellow bit. The majority of managers occupy the yellow bit. They’re not particularly smart or stupid or lazy or hard working. This is not about them.
Best Managers
Choosing the best combination is easy. Smart, hard working managers are great. They achieve things. They inspire. They want you to succeed. They understand that management is the art of getting the best from everyone — even if the best of some isn’t very good. They also understand that people are different and to get the best from people you have to recognise their differences. The downside is that they exhaust you — but it’s an exhilarating ride.
Smart/Lazy
If you can’t get smart/hard working, hope for smart/lazy. They won’t achieve as much as their smart, hard working counterparts but they have a laser-focus on what’s important — and what’s not. They’re smart enough to do the least amount of work to achieve the most amount of product. Their processes are lean and effective. They’re decision makers and their decisions are data-driven. They consult to get the best ideas. You’ll learn a lot from these people. One more bonus. Smart/lazy managers have bad reputations— which means you might get the credit for their achievements.
Smart managers (both types) have the ability to “zoom out”, which Steve Jobs once said was the distinguishing characteristic between good managers and the rest. Zooming out means seeing the big picture; it means standing back and being clear about what needs to be done and how to do it.
Lazy/Stupid
Then there’s lazy and stupid. They’re awful. They can’t make decisions. They achieve nothing. They drag you down. Unless you do all the work, you’ll be left doing nothing. Their saving grace is that they do nothing and everyone knows it. Their reputations are so bad that anything the team achieves will be credited to you. And they make you look good.
Worst Managers
Much, much worse than lazy/stupid is hard working/stupid. These people will draw you into their chaotic, nonsensical orbit from which you might never escape. They don’t collaborate or consult. They “zoom in” and micro-manage. They mis-use data to prove they’re right. Unlike their lazy counterparts, they probably have good reputations so their lack of accomplishment might be attributed to you. “Poor Colin. He works so hard but his team lets him down.” Unlike stupid/lazy, these people do things. Stupid, complicated, time-consuming, disruptive things. They’ll exhaust you with their ceaseless, pointless work.
So enjoy the exhilaration of dating smart/hard working but settle down with smart/lazy if you can find one. Just never, ever fall for the charms of hard working/stupid.
