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Who's The Best Boss?
Surprise! It's Mom
For a printable version of this release, please click here.
November 1998 - Dilbert, The Born Loser, and Sally Forth -- what do these comic strip characters have in common? They all work for bosses who are taskmasters or buffoons. For decades, cartoons and televison have portrayed supervisors as mean, demanding, foolish or busily trying to take credit for their subordinates' work. We can relate because we have all known at least one bad boss.
In this time of change and decreasing loyalty between companies and employees, workers in every industry are expressing feeling of being unappreciated, unnoticed, uncared for. The situation is ironic as businesses spend millions jumping from one sure-fire approach to the next in unsuccessful attempts to improve the work environment. Why have so may techniques failed?
Listen to employees. Workers can easily point out bad management, but how do they describe great supervisors? According to research of Kathleen Sanford, author of Leading With Love: How Women (And Men) Can Transform Their Organizations Through Maternalistic Management, people prefer leaders who are fair, competent, kind, patient, and mentoring. Surprisingly, these are the same traits they want in their mothers!
Sanford claims that good management and good parenting theories are remarkably the same. "If you read a book on one you would find the same thoughts as in the other," she says. "At work we want a boss, who like a loving parent, communicates, listens well, and puts our needs on a par with his or her own. We want a manager who cares about us as well as about customers, the company and managers." Sanford advocates a balanced approach to the needs of all company stakeholders. She also agrees with Ralph Waldo Emerson, who claimed, "Our chief want in life is someone who will make us do what we can."
Sanford is quick to point out that paternalism, the foundation of most of today's business, has been practiced by both men and women. It's based on caring for people without giving them rights or responsibilities. Maternalism, a way of treating people which fosters their growth and development by encouraging capability and accountability, can also be practiced by either gender. She advocates combing the talents of managers and associates to bridge the boss/worker gulf and ensure the organization's success.
Currently a hospital vice president, Sanford has been a manager for over 20 years. An affiliate faculty member for two universities, she has extensive management education,including a doctorate in business. Among her honors is designation by the American Businesswomen's Association as the 1994 American Business Woman. She credits her maternalistic style with being named the best boss in a 1995 newspaper survey.
Leading With Love is available at BookZone or your favorite bookstore.
Mack Mickens
Vashon Publishing
360-876-2036
http://www.vashonpublishing.com
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