The Tribune

Persons are promoted for their loyalty, connections or technical strength, rather than an ability to lead a team and process, far too often in this corporate environment. This usually results in unnecessary workplace friction and, sometimes, office mutiny.

The truth is that a few generations ago it did not take much to qualify for a management job. You only had to understand the processes and procedures at your job, and be reasonably reliable, to be hired and promoted. But a strong and capable manager today has to be able to listen, and empathise and communicate well. We are now realising that many of the people who hold management jobs are not qualified to be in these posts. They lead through fear rather than trust. They keep their employees in line by subtly or overtly threatening them.

If you believe the job market is such that you refuse to cross your manager for fear of losing your job, you will probably be intimidated into staying in line. And you will probably not care about your team goals, or be excited about your work.

Leaders who lead by intimidation limit themselves to sub-par results. They do not want their employees to be viewed as “subject matter” experts throughout the company. That would be terrifying to an intimidated manage.

Here are ten ways weak managers will try to intimidate you into backing down from your positions and becoming a doormat.

1. An intimidated manager will tell you that your education and training is sub-par.

2. An intimidated manager will remind you that no matter how reasonable your ideas are, they are not in line with the company’s direction and therefore should be squelched.

3. An intimidated manager will warn you that if you share your opinions with other people in the company, you will embarrass yourself.

4. An intimidated manager will tell you that you must funnel all communication through them, rather than directly to your intended recipient.

5. They will tell you not to speak at cross-departmental meetings, and instead let them represent your views.

6. An intimidated manager will rewrite your report or presentation and put their own name on it.

7. An intimidated manager will assign someone to train you on a subject you could teach yourself.

8. They will swoop in and second-guess your work, making tiny corrections to everything you do so you will remember who is the boss and who is not.

9. An intimidated manager will tell you that other managers have said negative things about you to keep you off-balance.

10. Finally, an intimidated manager will criticise you at every opportunity and never, ever praise your work. But when you succeed, they will praise themselves for hiring you.

If you are unfortunate enough to be working with a weak and intimidated manager, consider this your training for building character. Stay the course and give your best effort every day.

• NB: Ian R Ferguson is a talent management and organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organsations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at iferguson@bahamas.com.