Quote:
Originally posted by scottmandue
This seems to be boiling down to two different philosophies.
[This a very liberal paraphrase of what my friend described, perhaps one of you business degree guys could explain it better for me]
As a businessman friend of mine described it there are two management styles. One is where you believe most people are basically good and provided with the proper materials and incentive will work hard unsupervised. The other is where you believe most people are lazy bums who need to be monitored to preform.
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Precisely. Perfect seguey. Tim, I heard you and don't disagree. Here is an observation I think is important. Both management styles have some truth. There are workers who do need to be monitored, and workers who do not. Some of the ones needing monitoring will always need monitoring. One of the most interesting management principles I have noticed is that monitored workers can be turned into unmonitored ones. Often these cheating workers are simply playing a game they feel was in place before they got there. Cat and mouse. Why do dogs chase cats? BECAUSE THEY RUN! Unfortunately, it takes a long period of trust before they figure out that the workplace is not a "gotcha" place. If they feel truly appreciated, and if they feel truly secure and free to pursue their jobs, then they sometimes stop playing those games. It's a pretty interesting transformation. They start working longer hours and they start using their imaginations and pretty soon they're making the kinds of breakthroughs that give managers orgasms.
Some welfare people are just not going to contribute. That's sad, but it's the way it is. But I am certain that is not true for all of them. Some of them really want to work hard and succeed right now. Others will be more energized the more they find that is possible and within their reach. If we had the right programs in place, we would find that some of those people are simply in a state of dispair. They don't believe in those opportunities. They don't see them. They want them, but don't know what they look like. Never seen 'em. Show them the way, and they're off. That's why I suggested that a decent long term program would begin by looking at the reasons why there is dispair.
I'm thinking I should take over this country for a bit, at least until it gets back on its feet. I'll be naming a chairman for my fundraising campaign and when I do, I'll post a link here so you guys will know where to send your donations. The Lincoln Bedroom will need a new mattress. The current one has Cooties on it.