Average Manager vs. Great Manager
Explained in 10 Conversational Scenarios
Setting Deadlines
Average Manager: “I need you to finish this project by the end of the week. Make sure you don’t miss any deadlines.”
Great Manager: “Let’s work together to identify the key milestones for this project and develop a plan to make sure we hit our deadline.”
Availability for Meeting
Average Manager: “I don’t have time to meet with you, just figure it out on your own.”
Great Manager: “I understand how important this is to you, Let’s schedule a time to discuss it and come up with a solution together.”
Handling Mistakes
Average Manager: “You made a mistake, you’re fired.”
Great Manager: “Mistakes happen, let’s work together to understand what went wrong and how we can prevent it from happening again.”
Encouraging Input
Average Manager: “I’ll let you know what the plan is.”
Great Manager: “Great, what are your thoughts on how we should approach this? I value your input.”
Making Decisions
Average Manager: “I’m the boss, do as I say.”
Great Manager: “I know you have different ideas, Can you tell me more about your thoughts and how we can work together to make the best decision.”
Addressing Performance Issues
Average Manager: “You’re not meeting my expectations.”
Great Manager: “I can see that you’re having trouble meeting our goals. Can we work together to understand what’s getting in the way and develop a plan to improve?”
Delivering News
Average Manager: “I have some bad news, we’re going to have to let some of you go.”
Great Manager: “I have some difficult news to share, we’re going to have to make some changes. I’ll make sure to be transparent and keep you all informed as we work through this together.”
Providing Feedback
Average Manager: “I’m too busy to give you feedback.”
Great Manager: “I understand that you’re looking for feedback on your work. Let’s schedule a time for me to give you the feedback you need to improve.”
Supporting Personal Issues
Average Manager: “I don’t have time for your personal problems.”
Great Manager: “I understand that you’re going through a difficult time. How can I support you and ensure that it doesn’t affect your work?”
Budget Constraints
Average Manager: “I don’t have the budget for that.”
Great Manager: “I understand that budget is a concern. Can you tell me more about your proposal and how it aligns with our goals? Let’s see if there are any alternative solutions.”
