I meet managers all the time who they they are responsible for other people's work. "It's my job to make sure the work gets done."
Oh, boy. Those managers are wrong. Managers are responsible for:
- Creating an environment in which people can do their best work. This includes deciding which work to do now and which work to postpone or never do.
- Providing a system in which people can get and give feedback.
- Building capacity in the organization.
That's it. That's why I say managers manage the system.
Knowledge workers manage themselves. They learn how to break their work down into smaller tasks, so they can make progress. If people don't know how to do that, the manager or colleagues provide feedback, and someone might teach or provide coaching. But it's not the manager's job to manage the people. It's the manager's job to manage the system.
If you're a manager, think hard about the system in which your technical staff work. Are you creating an environment in which people can deliver good work? Can people give and receive feedback? Are you thinking strategically so you can build capacity in the organization?
If you're not a manager, and your manager doesn't know how to do these things, consider coaching the manager. It's likely your manager doesn't realize what his or her job is. Provide a little feedback and a little coaching.
When you think about management, remember that managers manage the system, not the people. The people manage themselves and their work. Just wanted to make that clear.
