Individual Competence vs. Organizational Efficiency LO28940

From: Alan Cotterell (acotrel@cnl.com.au)
Date: 07/31/02


Replying to LO28935 --

John, I worked as a manager for about 35 years. One thing I always did
was try to make myself redundant. I always felt secure enough to empower
my associates by providing them with sufficient documentation. The
laboratory I managed in one establishment was the first in Australia to
have a Management Manual for guidance. What it meant was that each
section was able to self-manage without constant referral to myself.

In this lab we served for ten years with two minor accidents (glass cuts),
no late results, no severe errors. In short we always came up with the
goods.

Being systematic is no problem when you are self-secure, and have
confidence in your fellow workers.

If you are phobic, insecure, manipulative and controlling, you are not
serving your organisation. You are not helping anyone except yourself.

Many managers I have encountered have been positively paranoid. That
paranoia is something I would look for in the first instance, if I was
ever again to consider taking a permanent position.

Best Regards,
Alan Cotterell

-- 

"Alan Cotterell" <acotrel@cnl.com.au>

Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <Richard@Karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>


"Learning-org" and the format of our message identifiers (LO1234, etc.) are trademarks of Richard Karash.