Contemporary Management Style - The Socialist

The Socialist

A few years back, in appraisal season, my manager walked to us and asked if we had any issues to share. "Yes" said one of us, "We would like to know who is getting promoted this year". The manager said those who are getting promoted will be informed through mails. I asked shouldn't a promotion, that's considered a reward for past performance and future potential, be announced for everyone's benefit in a fair system. It will help us to know who got it and on what parameters so that we know what we need to do extra and who should be our role models (not that I meant it, my heart was crying  why not me?). With a sigh of wisdom the manager explained - "As a Manager its my duty to take care of aspirations of people who have been waiting for promotion for years, even if they secured an average performance rating over those who received outstanding rating". "Well isn't that promoting mediocrity in the organization" I protested. "Ratings are not everything" the Manager fought back. "You are disregarding your own process of performance measurement. Are you suggesting there is no need to fill up those lengthy forms of goals and achieve them going forward for us." I challenged. A little on back-foot, he explained "As a Manager, my job is to bring everyone on same level". I persisted "Everyone has different potential, and I believe a Manager's job is to bring everyone to the level of their potential, which will vary from individual to individual." He dodged, changed the conversation and eventually left.

A month later the Manager was fired. He came looking for a shoulder to cry upon and coincidentally the first one was mine. "You know they fired me" he opened the conversation. "Why" I asked. 

"There are some wrong individuals who have grown up to decision making positions, who can not separate personal issues with professional and I am the victim" he answered. 

"How the wrong individuals got up there?" I continued to ask. 

"Well they were not ready to handle that position, they are mediocre, got up through their connections despite dismal performance". 

"Well it must have been some manager's idea to bring everyone to the same level. They are the products of a school of thought that you yourself nurtured." I said. "Now don't cry foul". 

"Dude what goes around comes around" I thought.


The Manager is a walking list of "what not be like". Sometime in future I wish to dedicate a character in my comic strip to him because I know I will never run out of stories with him in mind :). 


Having said that the conversation triggers a thought in my mind about how objective managers are when they measure performance. Are they making right choices of parameters while judging performance both in theory (appraisal systems)  and in their minds. That goes a long way in influencing the the employee behavior. Whether the employees prefer sticking to their cubicles from 9 to 9 over getting a quality deliverable out no matter from where. Whether they work to impress the Manager or to help the client solve its problem..Whether they struggle with the process or aim at the purpose.. The choices are not always mutually exclusive by nature, however the focus should be clear in the mind of employee and equally in the mind of a Manager about what to choose when faced with a choice..