Bob Wouldn’t Like It, but ….

8 April 2013 at 1:37 pm Nicolai Foss 2 comments

| Nicolai Foss |

So, my school is now deep into discussing the results of the recent “employee satisfaction survey.” Thus, each department is expected to spend minimum 2,5 hours discussing the results, and to come up with an action plan to handle those problems that — per definition — exist. And in my capacity as department head I have just ended this round of annual reviews which focus on the “competence development” of faculty. The practice of management has changed, to be sure. An approach that is decidedly not acceptable anymore, at least in my part of the world, is exemplified by this great drummer chewing out the band he led (more here; here is the mandatory Hitler version; and, in case you really want to practice, here are the transcriptions). Bob Sutton wouldn’t like it.And yet, badass approaches to management may work — perhaps not for those autonomously motivated, self-directed types (i.e., us), but certainly for those with motivational issues (see Emily Bazelon’s Slate piece on Rutgers coach Mike Rice). Toughness has costs and benefits. It seems that much current management thinking focuses on the costs of tough management approaches and neglects the potential benefits. No?

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2 Comments Add your own

1. Frederik Marain | 9 April 2013 at 3:09 am

You don’t win the horse races with a bunch of motivated cows.
2. Randy | 9 April 2013 at 2:05 pm

Nicolai, if all evaluations and similar feedback are given in the same bloodless monotone, then will the modal evaluation be insipid? The university administrators that I admire most use raised voices, a few indelicate turns of phrase, and a bit of table-pounding on occasion when motivating faculty and staff. The rule has been that the emotion and requisite inflection end as soon as the point is made and well before the session finishes. It brings to mind the scene from The Lion in Winter, where King Henry tells King Philip to “use all your voices” and, “When I bellow, bellow back!” The scene is easy to find on the web.