Badger
Member
<The people of the world are divided into two types. Management, or those who do it to people, and the managed, or those who have it done to them>.
It's not that simple, having done a couple of start up companies it goes both ways. When I did the first one we wanted to create a new type of working environment, one which was very understanding and altrusitic, where there was a lot of individual respect and freedom and management (3 of us) focused on creating an environment where individuals could reach ther full potential and the companies goals at the same time. OK , you could argue that we hired the wrong people but they cynically exploited our trust from day one and it was only because "management" worked their butts off right at the coal face 12 hours a day that we survived.In other words they did it to us.Now I am on my second one(after a miserable year back in big corporate land) but I am pleased to say that we are not bitter and twisted or cynical about it just less naive and more diligent in how we go about things.We still have the same dreams and we still work harder and do more doing then telling but it's different. We spell it out more up front what is expected and explain it is nothing less than we ask of ourselves. We are also delighted if one of our employees earns more than any of the management team if they have earned the right. One point I agree on though, we know this attitude is rare in business. It's a balance and I know you have probably heard this one before but our post naive style is the velvet glove.If you need help it is alway available, if you want to talk the door is always open, we don't mind employees who struggle or miss their targets as long as they are willing crew members and work hard. We just won't have people who take the piss and then the glove is off to revaeal the fist of steal. We always honour our committments to ex employees who just dont make it (with the exception of gross misconduct cases). But it works both ways - management and those who are managed...bit like running a happy ship really.
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It's not that simple, having done a couple of start up companies it goes both ways. When I did the first one we wanted to create a new type of working environment, one which was very understanding and altrusitic, where there was a lot of individual respect and freedom and management (3 of us) focused on creating an environment where individuals could reach ther full potential and the companies goals at the same time. OK , you could argue that we hired the wrong people but they cynically exploited our trust from day one and it was only because "management" worked their butts off right at the coal face 12 hours a day that we survived.In other words they did it to us.Now I am on my second one(after a miserable year back in big corporate land) but I am pleased to say that we are not bitter and twisted or cynical about it just less naive and more diligent in how we go about things.We still have the same dreams and we still work harder and do more doing then telling but it's different. We spell it out more up front what is expected and explain it is nothing less than we ask of ourselves. We are also delighted if one of our employees earns more than any of the management team if they have earned the right. One point I agree on though, we know this attitude is rare in business. It's a balance and I know you have probably heard this one before but our post naive style is the velvet glove.If you need help it is alway available, if you want to talk the door is always open, we don't mind employees who struggle or miss their targets as long as they are willing crew members and work hard. We just won't have people who take the piss and then the glove is off to revaeal the fist of steal. We always honour our committments to ex employees who just dont make it (with the exception of gross misconduct cases). But it works both ways - management and those who are managed...bit like running a happy ship really.
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