What Makes The Right Style Of Management?

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...People admire his ability to get results but also complain about his methods.

- Someone using the Conserving-Holding management style has the desire to prevent loss and an interest in protecting his or her current position. They will want to retrieve the most from any situation and maximise the value of what already exists in a situation or relationship. Careful analysis, thorough attention to detail and a reliance on sound procedures and policies are typical behaviours associated with this style. They will also demonstrate a generally cautious approach to new situations.

Under threat this style may reflect an unwillingness...

...to be involved or a pre-occupation with detail. This person can become too involved in data and fail to appreciate other people’s lack of interest. In a conflict situation, they would either gather the facts and argue the case point by point, or simply tune out and withdraw. As well as suffering “analysis paralysis”, under pressure this style can often lead to an unwillingness to accept new ideas or be receptive to change.

Take the case of Joe who is a departmental manager in a large retailing company with a presence on virtually every high street. He runs one of the best organised departments in the company, in charge of delivery logistics. He has well-documented descriptions of each job, explicit ground rules and establishes yardstick’s for measuring every employee’s performance. Problems do not catapult Joe into action. He is known for his deliberate and thoughtful approach. If you ask Joe for a report you know you will get a thorough one. He can dig into a maze of facts and figures and show you many facets that you may have ignored. His staff knows that he will follow up meticulously on their assignments. However, they do feel that Joe can get too involved... continued on page five >

 

 

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