Rules Of Management

RULE 50 - Know when to kick the door shut

“No other technique for the conduct of life attaches the individual so firmly to reality as laying emphasis on work; for their work at least gives them a secure place in the human community.”

Sigmund Freud

Keeping an open-door policy as a manager is a basically good idea, but there comes a time when you have to know it is time to kick the door shut so that you can:

- Get on with some work
- Have a meeting in private
- Let your team know you don’t want to be disturbed
- Let the team know you really are the boss and not really one of them at all.

Obviously a good manager such as yourself likes to have an open door policy so that the staff have access to you when and as they need. But there are times when it is necessary physically and psychologically to create a barrier. You see, the real secret of good management is that no matter how chummy you are with the team there comes a times when it is essential that you are actually the boss.

“There are times when it is necessary physically and psychologically to create a barrier.”

Ruling by democracy is all very well; meetings and committees are fine; joint discussions are rewarding. But when push comes to shove you have to be prepared to carry the can and that means you have to fly by the seat of your pants, make the tough calls and be the boss. And occasionally shutting the door reinforces that. You don’t have to be a cruel or harsh or dictatorial boss, but a boss you must be.

If you are one of those managers who finds it hard to be assertive or ‘bossy’, I suggest you practice kicking the door shut. It is a deeply symbolic gesture about who controls your environment – you. Do it a few times and the team will get the message. Once you’ve got used to it you can control who sits down in your office and how long they stay. It is essential for employees to take you seriously, for you to stamp your authority on the situation. Kicking the door shut symbolizes you are the manger – and this is a good thing, believe me. Oh, and it’ll also mean you get some work done without interruption. Just don’t do it too often – nothing is more frustrating than a boss who is never available.

posted by Right Ranger @ 8:26 PM