Work is Hard & Not Being in Control is Unsettling
Work is hard – that’s why it’s called work and not play. It is hard to work for someone else. Not being in control of your destiny and having your fate in the hands of someone else is unsettling. Know this – layoffs (reductions in force – RIFs) do occur. They are a reality. Some are due to ineptitude at the top by managers who fail to meet goals; others may be due to eco-political realities that were not planned for. Add to this a seemingly mean spirited management environment and the ‘not-in-control’ feeling worsens. However, not to worry, there are behavioral competencies / survival skills / what I call Siegel’s Rules (Part 1) How to Survive a Stressful Management Environment that can lessen the impact of this reality if and when encountered.
Management is Hard & ‘Toughness’ is often Learned the Hard Way
In addition, it is important to know this as well. Being in charge is hard. Management is hard. Whether it is in a corporate environment or as an owner of one’s business, being responsible for keeping a business viable is the task of management. So yes, managers reap the rewards of big salaries and incentive compensation (IC) for being successful in their role. Only they too work for someone else and they are all vulnerable to being fired (leaving to pursue other interests) when goals are not met.
In effect, Managers are responsible to see to it that all those who report to them do their jobs. How good they are at this determines their fate. In this context, Managers are essentially at the mercy of their employees. It’s one big two way street. I’ve seen employees spend all day on the phone with their outside interests and obviously failing to do their job while still getting paid by their employer. So the toughness of management has a basis in their experience in that (cynically – yes) ‘No good deed goes un-punished.’
Business is about Making Money; Management is about IC
In particular, it is essential to understand that ‘Business is about Making Money’ and that meeting business goals is the criteria for being rewarded. Hence, Senior Management is all about meeting goals to justify big salaries and large amounts of IC. It is important to understand that there are those who realize early on in their careers that there is a lot of money to be made in salary, incentive compensation, stock options, and company paid excursions at the executive level. They recognize instantly that there are only a few executive positions relative to the whole employee base and have as their only objective – do whatever it takes to become an executive and stay there.
Most folk believe success at work is about doing a good job, doing what is right for the business, and being a decent person in the process. In general this is true and that is their focus. On the other hand, the would-be or the existing executive is focused on getting very good at how to rise in the organization and developing skills that extend well beyond just doing a good job. They are good at assessing their competitors and have learned to be manipulative and know how to place blame if things go wrong and how to assure personal gain if things go well. Their actions are based on what is best for them. They are not to be underestimated. They are intelligent. Moreover, they are smart (there is a difference). They know how to survive and they know how to protect their turf, ruthlessly if necessary. They do this because they’ve learned that a company is run first and foremost for the senior executives of the company to get their IC.
Management by Fear, Intimidation & Abuse
As a result, to differentiate themselves from the pack and establish their dominance, there are managers who use Fear, Intimidation and Abuse to effect successful fear based employee performance to meet goals. Don’t take it personally. Although many managers are not so nice in the work place, some do pretend that they are good guys. But the really honest ones are proud of instilling fear. Those who manage by fear, intimidation and abuse do so because it has worked for them all their careers. Many years of rewarded behavior will not change. It may be disguised temporarily, but under stress it kicks in big time. Personally, I prefer the executive that is up front about being tough rather than the friendly guy that is a back stabber. Of course the really nice guy is preferred. However, he may never become the top dog and therefore is limited in his ability to be influential. He can only be effective to a point because he has to be careful not to jeopardize his own position. (Forgiveness is asked – he & she are interchangeable in this context – a she is equally capable of being either a ruthless or kind manager)
Be Alert to ‘Hard-Ass’ Management & Learn the Skills to Survive
Additionally, some Executives will fire people periodically just to stay sharp and send the message that they have that power and are ever vigilant and are willing to exercise their power to remain in power. Try not to give them a reason to single you out for this. Simply put, their hard-ass approach is how they’ve become comfortable with managing their employees to keep them from failing. As I’ve said, it’s all about money. If you want love, get a puppy.
A key survival skill is to see your role as performing to meet your goals, which in turn helps your boss and his boss and the senior executives get their annual bonuses and their next levels up the ladder. Thinking and succeeding with this in mind may let you become a chosen one some day.
Also, beware. Executives looking toward the next promotion treat their executive peers as adversaries. At times they’ll play the game called “I’m the bigger Kahuna and let me prove it to you”. Everything in their path is fair game to use to smash each other. That includes you. It may seem like a friendly game of tennis but be alert that you don’t become the ball. Understand it and stay away from them when you see it happening as best you can. It doesn’t matter whom you work for. Your own boss will use you with equal indifference to any impact on you as will his adversarial peer in their quest to obtain the next step up the ladder.
Don’t Take It Personally; Get Comfort; Get the List of 30 Key Survival Skills
So, don’t take management by abuse personally. You are one of dozens that receive the same treatment. Moreover, when your boss goes home at night you are the last person on his mind; so don’t assume that you are in trouble and have him on your mind.
I encourage you all to obtain the full list of 30 key survival skills for a harsh and stressful management environment. It can be of great value and comfort knowing how to survive if and when you encounter this style of management.