Do you boss manage by intimidation? Managing by intimidating employees is a traditional way to manage people to obtain performance results and gain power. Believe it or not in today's world there are a high number of managers, supervisors, presidents and CEOs using that approach. Yes, there is no doubt about employees can easily be intimidating by people with the authority to fired you, promote you and decide how much your wage increase will be this year, however; did they really earning the employees respect and loyalty?, what about the motivation, moral, employee development and recognition.
Managing by intimidation is a management approach adopted by manager with a lack of leadership. They are people with no skills whatsoever to lead a group of people and improve quality. One of the problems with this type of management is control; they want to have full control of the decisions and just directing employees to complete a task, the knowledge and skills of employees does not contribute to the company decision making process. One of my peers once asked me if I was afraid of losing control of my department, further more, my job. I told him I have never had control and I never wanted it. If I can be able to create an environment where my employees truly are leaders or participate with the department goals and visions, I don't really need control. As a leader, I believe in empower employees, they know what needs to be done and they will do it, and the more my employees will devote themselves to the department cause on a voluntary basis, a willing basis, the less hierarchies and control I need. A good leader is always willing and able to serve, and if a leader is a servant by definition they are not controlling.
I don't believe any of us would like to work for an organization that manage by intimidating employees or does not take in consideration your opinion, values, culture, talent and skills. Is like living in a constantly hostile environment, without hopes, opportunities and vision. Managers must design tasks in order to the organization be productive. It is very hard for employees to succeed if they never see how their task is designed. If they can't succeed they can't have any hope. And if they can't have hope, it is going to be a very ordinary organization with a very ordinary management.
Instead of ordinary management, today's organizations are using empowerment to improve their decision making process and make things happen. Managers have to be ready, motivated, and open minded to implement such of critical operational decision and maintain productivity. By empower employees; organizations are providing opportunities for creative problem solving and innovation with the discretion to act from the employee. Implementing real empowerment, organizations are increasing the total power available within the company. Top level managers will expect thinks being handle and problems solving plans being planning by employees without give up power, by empowering employees they will not wait for authorization, but they will act and make decisions in behalf of the organization.
