Catching “Negative Management” Naked! (Part - 1)

The word “Negative Management” does not sound good. But, in the real world it exists. Let us face it. The world is not perfect. Surprisingly, the Pareto Principle applies to real world management in some organizations as well – 80% of managers get their pay package due to 20% of other hard working and sincere managers!

Those 80% managers are true practitioners of "Negative Management" so that they can survive in the organization. As to look better than someone there are 2 clean ways:

- “Either perform better than others” - or -
- “Make others look worse”

The later principle is followed to the book by negative management.

Now, if you are working for some, you must identify them and come out their circle as soon as possible. As in today’s world – no organization can promise for a life long employment, rather they can promise for life long employability. And you actually never learn anything from these kinds of managers.

They fall into many categories and we will have a look at some of them.

1. The Fault Finders

Say a person is in a bowling event and there are 10 pins which he wants to strike. And he got 8 pins down. Here the manager will say:

"Hmm...there are 2 pins which could not even be touched! You need to do better"

2. The "Caligula” Manager

Caligula was the (in)famous Roman Emperor who ruled and ruined Rome. His principle was:

“They can hate me as long as they fear me.”

These managers have the attitude of instilling fear and getting the work done.

3. Followers of “Principle of Depression”

If you want to depress somebody, then catch him/her always doing something wrong and then leave the place. And do talk with the person after some days.

But they are again very smart while doing it. If there is a 360% feedback process, then they apply the below Sugar Daddy principle simultaneously.



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4. The Sugar Daddy

They always smile while criticizing. And they will make you feel that it is always your fault, your lack of skills, and your lack of competency which has forced them to “coach” you.

However, if you ask them for possible actions for real improvements, there is never a concrete answer. Rather it is always in between “Right” or “Wrong” or “Yes” or “No”. They thrive on ambiguity.

5. Managers with Normal Distribution Curve mentality

What will happen if you rate everyone who reported to you at a highest performance level? As a "soft touch", you do not know to differentiate between a good and bad performance.

So, these managers have a normal distribution mentality. Some will be winners, some will be losers and everyone else somewhere in the middle!

6. Leave Alone and Rebuke

That is what is often done when someone is new and inexperienced. Welcome them aboard, take them around to meet everybody, and leave them alone in lurch afterward.

To be continued . . .

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