I wrote a piece in 2011 while still studying for my Master’s Degree in Accountancy from The University of Glasgow with the title ‘Who is a Manager?’
The article went viral then but am not sure it reached all its intended audience. How did I know that? Simple, I still find people with all sorts of managerial titles having no clue of what the meaning of the word Manager is talk more of knowing what it entails to be a manager.
I have not been making new posts lately due to some personal reasons (I will be back fully shortly) but I had to share this just to draw attention to an ugly incident that I witnessed in Lagos recently.
Just last week I went to Victoria Island for an official function. Upon entering the office (name withheld), I saw a lady who should be in her mid-30s pulling the ear of another lady who I suppose should be in her 20s. I immediately stepped in, asked the lady pulling the ears of the other to stop or I will file a case against her ad the company she represents.
She gave me a nasty look and reluctantly released her grip on her victim. I said to her ‘Madam, that was totally wrong’ and she replied saying ‘I am her manager, I am only correcting her’.
I couldn’t help but burst out in anger at that point. Seriously? She is her manager and thinks she can trample on her fundamental rights just like that?
The last time I checked, pulling someone else ears constitutes an assault and should not be entertained in any disguise. ‘What happens to ono-on-one meetings?’ was my next question to her?
Anyways, I shared the above real life story just to create an image of a glimpse of what is happening in many work places. This is in fact a typical example of workplace bullying all in the name of managing company’s resources. So, if are reading this and you are in a position to help, please do not keep quiet as a lot of injustices are going on in many workplaces where humanity have been reduced to almost nothing.
I see people with prestigious titles (like MBA, ACCA, CFA) everywhere occupying strategic positions in work places yet, no one seem to care. It is not enough to attend expensive business schools just to be promoted to higher positions. This I think is a fundamental problem that needs to be addressed in the curricular of most business schools.
A prominent person in the management field once said that ‘workers should be trained so that they become so good that they are ready to leave the organization but be treated so well that the idea of leaving will not even cross their mind’.
I won’t repeat the contents of articles that I have written about being a true manager here. I can only point you to the articles in the following links.
Handling disgruntled employees
Functions of a Finance Manager
Please share them to anyone you feel needs them.
Thank you
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