Most managers unfortunately don’t treat nor the time spent by the team neither their own time the way it should be treated, that is, as a finite and measurable resource. A recent McKinsey study with about 1,500 executives brought up that only 9% were “very satisfied” with the allocation of time in their companies. However, almost a third of executives said they are “quite dissatisfied”. Well, the last thing you want for your career is to be part of this team. So, here are the four worst types of managers, regarding to their use of time. Managers who don’t invest in a modern activities control and, therefore, are so unhappy – and displease others.
1. The Online Junkie
Compared to the managers satisfied with their allocation of time, spends
• 50% less time with face-to-face communication
• 33% more time with clients and customers
This one is the manager who fills everyone’s mailbox with a looot of emails that you not even should receive, or should, but not in a so messy way. He believes that e-mail is the latest trend in activities control, the boomerang of gods, with its incredible reach and ability to save constraints of face-to-face conversation. He forgets though that he’s forcing the team to spend too much time to get organized with so many demands and announcements and reminders, some of which could be made personally, helping to create a more friendly leadership.
2. The Schmoozer
Compared to the managers satisfied with their allocation of time, spends
• 46% less time alone
• 17% more time with clients and customers
You can find him being a CEO or sales director. He’s the manager champion in extraversion but he becomes annoying. On a social network profile, it surely would be: “I love to meet, talk and relate to new people.” It turns out that he spends too much time with analysts, customers and potential customers but has problems with answering emails. Who most suffers is the company itself, by excess of tactical actions and lack of strategic actions. After all, the guy is never alone and doesn’t have time to think carefully about next steps.
3. The Cheerleader
Compared to the managers satisfied with their allocation of time, spends
• 39% less time with clients and customers
• 45% more time with face-to-face communication
The opposite of the schmoozer, the cheerleader is the manager who uses all, I mean, all his energy to gather the team, and motivate them, and inspire them. He’s the team spirit guardian and the keeper of the good mood magic stone. Say “hello, how are you” to him and don’t expect to get less than a bouquet of smiles. Although very competent to propose new (exciting) challenges and, especially, hit all the targets, this type of manager has difficulty to know when a tougher approach is needed. For example, if the company goes through a crisis, replacing a professional instead of trying to develop him/her may be the best to do.
4. The Firefighter
Compared to the managers satisfied with their allocation of time, spends
• 25% less time with the team direction and strategies
• 67% more time managing unexpected demands and short-term results
Just take the firefighter manager calendar and you’ll understand why he’s so unhappy with their allocation of time. It’s a mess! Often, this manager needs (or believe he needs) to cancel appointments and meetings to address emergencies. Because he got trauma by firefighting any time, he developed the habit of “micromanaging”, asking for deliveries and results from table to table, e-mail to e-mail. In this case, the diagnosis is not a mystery: dialogue and memory problems. After all, where’s that little thing called… planning?
If you don’t find yourself in this list, congratulations! But if you, on the contrary, realize that you need a more intelligent activities control, our tip is: meet Runrun.it. The task, time and performance management tool that automates the bureaucratic work, reduces e-mails, meetings, makes priorities more clear and increases the productivity of your team up to 25%. Try it for free: http://runrun.it
