Hi Garthh, I concur completely. In the mid eighties I had anywhere from 12-20 people working under me. The company I worked for, encouraged a separatist attitude, in which I was to consider myself middle management, and everyone below me was literally below me, socially, intellectually, etc., while this wasn't spoken, it certainly was implied. I chose to go in the opposite direction, every "top secret" internal memo that I received, I shared with my crew, regarding budgets, timelines, etc. They also encouraged me to work my people like dogs, and I could reap the benefits in the form of bonuses. I did get bonuses, upon receiving my bonus checks, I would show them to the crew, cash them and split the money up evenly. As long as my numbers looked good, my people also routinely got off at noon on Fridays with pay, something the main office knew nothing about. The upshot of this story is that, my team became a self sustaining entity, even though I was the boss, I didn't really have to do any bossing. On occasion, I would hire someone that didn't feel like working and just wanted to skate, once again, no worries, my people had become part of a finely tuned machine, in which they were proud to be a part of, the losers were gone promptly with little input from me. I have to say, it has always amazed me, that almost every problem that exists in the world can be traced back to this relatively small group of people that we call "leaders". The word leader itself is a bit of an oxymoron, it implies that "we" must be led. At the risk of sounding treasonous, I think that what the US and many other countries around the world need right now, is not necessarily "leaders" in the traditional sense, but, people that are moral, fiscally responsible, and are willing to "lead" through example as opposed to implementing new rules for the rest of us to follow. There's my two cents worth.

You were the boss in the sense that you made sure everyone had the resources & support to preform their part of the task...

You can't be a good boss, if you don't know how to be a good helper

Absolutely, my role as boss was to make sure my people got what they needed to accomplish the task at hand. My main role as boss, was to insure that my people woke up every morning excited about what we would accomplish that day and knowing that their hard work would be rewarded. I'm sorry to keep reverting to this, but, part of the reason that big gov't doesn't work anywhere is that there is no incentive. These people know exactly how much money they will be making 15 years in the future. Show up every day, get paid the same amount of money regardless of how productive you are. This is unsustainable, we are only beginning to see the long term consequences of these policies in Europe. The window on reversing this type of thinking is closing quickly. Quite frankly, it may already be too late. Meanwhile, our "leaders" are giving everyone more and more a sense of entitlement, as opposed to a sense of accountability. Sad

Personal Responsibility

"the reason that big gov't doesn't work anywhere is that there is no incentive. These people know exactly how much money they will be making 15 years in the future. Show up every day, get paid the same amount of money regardless of how productive you are."

The above also describes communist USSR and encapsulates why it failed.

"encouraged a separatist attitude, in which I was to consider myself middle management, and everyone below me was literally below me, socially, intellectually, etc."

This, from your first post, describes the biggest flaw in all management thinking, political, or corporate, or military, back to the first King, as it filters information to suit perceived interests, not to the real circumstances.

Given that succeeding at anything depends on having the appropriate information, complete, correct and properly ranked; anything that impedes or twists information, or ranking, guarantees failure.

It doesn't seem to matter if the enterprise is a 2-man-band or a giant administration, once 'elitism' or 'power' or 'personal priorities' corrupt/bias/stunt/censor/miss-rank the information, no one is properly resourced, and the enterprise fails.

A giant shame that there are not more managers like you. But equally, the above, also means at a certain 'elitism mass', your wicked egalitarian ways, makes you a target and you have to go.

Ironically, the person lacking your ability, yet who has reached a 'comparable position' in hierarchy, has usually done so by corrupting information, so has the exact 'talents' to bring you down.

Or I doubt the author of "Open Leaders" is going to succeed against the spin merchants. But we can dream. As we have on many a thread here. And even about how here should be.

Or I doubt the author of "Open Leaders" is going to succeed against the spin merchants. But we can dream. As we have on many a thread here. And even about how here should be.

& dream we will

The key trait of a great leader is the ability to bring out the best in others.

well there you go

It's not about control or repression

Provide the conditions for both individuals & the larger group to grow & thrive.

I know it sounds like RA RA

But like the lady said, people know when you are just faking it

you are what you think

Yep. Crappy 'leaders' exploit the weaknesses of their followers and bring out the worst in them. Great leaders can see the good in a person without dwelling on the flaws, give opportunity for a person's good qualities to be put to use and strengthened, for the benefit of the team and for the person too.

I like Kramarat's story about leadership in the workplace. Workers who are allowed to use their strengths, be rewarded and feel rewarded and responsible - they live up to the responsibility, feel good about themselves and their work.

I like this book & philosophy

Apparently, it really works...!

My experience agrees with this. Most workers are eager to contribute until micromanagement ruins everything. When management facilitates rather than dictates, productivity, quality, and morale all improve. I plan to search out Semler's book.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0446670553/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277643299&sr=1-1&condition=used

Thanks! I've just ordered it.