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April 29, 2005
Nice-ness in Bosses is Overrated
From Jon Carroll on Rupert Murdoch:
Too many bosses try to be nice guys. A little common courtesy is always appreciated, but what people really want from their bosses is clarity. "Just tell me the truth" is the common cry of the confused employee. (Competence is also nice in a boss, but competence is really gravy. Clarity is the pearl beyond price.)Perhaps sad to say, but management is not a team event, despite all the biz-school hyperbole saying so. Most companies run as democracies are dreadful places. Bring me a semi-benevolent dictator any day.I worked for Rupert Murdoch for four years. He was not a nice guy, even when he was trying to be. But he always told me the truth, even when it was not a truth I wanted to hear. It was a really easy gig, even when it was hard. I knew how I would be judged.
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"How Do I Work Thee? Let Me Count The Ways..."
How do I work thee? Let me count the ways.
I work thee to the depth and breadth and height
My power can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Role and ideal Conformity.
I work thee to the level of everyday's
Most whimsical need, by monitor and fluorescent-light.
I work thee freely, as you strive for Rights;
I work thee purely, as I give not Praise.
I work thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childish faith.
I work thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my old bosses, --- I work thee with bad breath,
False smiles, fears, of all my life! --- and, if the Devil choose,
I shall but work thee better after death.
I agree with the "semi-benevolent dictator" characterization, however there is a fine line between a boss who's competent and capable but just not naturally a nice guy (like Murdoch), and one who makes people hate to go to work. The second is doing his employer a disservice by de-motivating junior employees.
Sometimes rudeness is also a symptom of incompetence. Typically only a boss who's competent and comfortable is his position will be nice, because he does not need to prop his ego up with shows of his power.