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Are You A Good Manager?
By Tony Segal
Many managers get their jobs on account of their
excellent professional skills regardless of the fact
that they have little or no management skills. The
results can be disastrous.
Do you find yourself wondering whether you are a
good at your job as a manager, or how your employees
feel around you? If so, try the Management Quiz below.
Just answer the questions as honestly as you can and
tally your score according to the simple directions at
the bottom of the test.
How often do you criticize your employees publicly?
1. Almost every day
2. About once a week
3. Perhaps once a month
4. I never criticize them in public
How often do you raise your voice at employees?
1. Whenever necessary
2. I try not to but once in a while I lose my temper
3. Only when I feel someone has really let me down
4. I never raise my voice at people
How often do you humiliate employees?
1. I don't think telling people how bad they have done is humiliating
2. I have had my moments but those employees deserved it
3. I do my best not to and apologies when I do
4. I respect my employees and never humiliate them
One of your employees did something really exceptional at work
1. You are the boss so you take all the credit for it
2. You don't take the credit but you ignore their achievement
3. You praise them once and go back to work
4. You make sure everyone hears about it, including your superiors
How often do you play favorites with your employees?
1. All the time
2. I try not to, but there are always people I like more than others
3. Very rarely and when I do I try to hide it
4. Never - not even when I especially like someone
Do you expect your employees to obey you without question?
1. Of course
2. I can put up with some questions, but only to verify my instructions
3. It's Ok to ask questions as long as they know I have the last word
4. I encourage my employees to express their opinions, I listen and
sometimes I even take their advice
How do you feel about delegation of authority?
1. I don't believe in it. The manager is the only one who should have authority.
2. I know it's important but I find it hard to implement
3. I delegate authority for roles I don't have time to perform
4. I am always on the lookout for more ways to delegate authority
How often you check on your employee's performance?
1. All the time
2. Every once in awhile
3. As little as possible
4. I trust them and never check on them
Do you think your employees are afraid of you?
1. They are and they should be
2. I hope they aren't but sometimes it feels like they might be
3. I encourage them to trust me. I hope they do
4. They respect me but not out of fear
Do you believe your employees should know what is expected
of them without you telling them?
1. Obviously
2. Yes, if they are skilled and professional
3. I'm glad when they do but I don't expect them to
4. Nobody should guess what I expect of them
Score Your Manager Quiz
Take the number of each answer as your score, and then add the numbers up. For
example: if your answer to a question is number 2, you get 2 points; if it's number 3,
you get 3 points.
<back
By Tony Segal
Many managers get their jobs on account of their
excellent professional skills regardless of the fact
that they have little or no management skills. The
results can be disastrous.
Do you find yourself wondering whether you are a
good at your job as a manager, or how your employees
feel around you? If so, try the Management Quiz below.
Just answer the questions as honestly as you can and
tally your score according to the simple directions at
the bottom of the test.
How often do you criticize your employees publicly?
1. Almost every day
2. About once a week
3. Perhaps once a month
4. I never criticize them in public
How often do you raise your voice at employees?
1. Whenever necessary
2. I try not to but once in a while I lose my temper
3. Only when I feel someone has really let me down
4. I never raise my voice at people
How often do you humiliate employees?
1. I don't think telling people how bad they have done is humiliating
2. I have had my moments but those employees deserved it
3. I do my best not to and apologies when I do
4. I respect my employees and never humiliate them
One of your employees did something really exceptional at work
1. You are the boss so you take all the credit for it
2. You don't take the credit but you ignore their achievement
3. You praise them once and go back to work
4. You make sure everyone hears about it, including your superiors
How often do you play favorites with your employees?
1. All the time
2. I try not to, but there are always people I like more than others
3. Very rarely and when I do I try to hide it
4. Never - not even when I especially like someone
Do you expect your employees to obey you without question?
1. Of course
2. I can put up with some questions, but only to verify my instructions
3. It's Ok to ask questions as long as they know I have the last word
4. I encourage my employees to express their opinions, I listen and
sometimes I even take their advice
How do you feel about delegation of authority?
1. I don't believe in it. The manager is the only one who should have authority.
2. I know it's important but I find it hard to implement
3. I delegate authority for roles I don't have time to perform
4. I am always on the lookout for more ways to delegate authority
How often you check on your employee's performance?
1. All the time
2. Every once in awhile
3. As little as possible
4. I trust them and never check on them
Do you think your employees are afraid of you?
1. They are and they should be
2. I hope they aren't but sometimes it feels like they might be
3. I encourage them to trust me. I hope they do
4. They respect me but not out of fear
Do you believe your employees should know what is expected
of them without you telling them?
1. Obviously
2. Yes, if they are skilled and professional
3. I'm glad when they do but I don't expect them to
4. Nobody should guess what I expect of them
Score Your Manager Quiz
Take the number of each answer as your score, and then add the numbers up. For
example: if your answer to a question is number 2, you get 2 points; if it's number 3,
you get 3 points.
<back
Results
If your score totals:
10-15: You are the manager from hell! Your employees probably hate your guts but you couldn't care less. You don't trust them anyway and you have no respect for their feelings. You truly believe that since you pay their salary you actually own them, and then you wonder why your department looks more like a train station than a workplace. My advice: resign right away or get some help!
16-25: You realize people who work for you have a life outside their workplace and you know they deserve a certain amount of respect. Still, there are times when you find it hard to control your hostility toward some of your employees. It's time for you to get a grip on your impulses and stop creating this negative atmosphere. Remember: if you don't change, eventually it'll backfire on you.
26-40: You are one of those wonderful yet rare bosses. Your employees admire you, respect you, are happy to see you every morning and are loyal to you. You too respect them, trust them and allow them to flourish and grow. The atmosphere in your department is probably warm and friendly, but more important - things are getting done efficiently and successfully. Well done!
If your score totals:
10-15: You are the manager from hell! Your employees probably hate your guts but you couldn't care less. You don't trust them anyway and you have no respect for their feelings. You truly believe that since you pay their salary you actually own them, and then you wonder why your department looks more like a train station than a workplace. My advice: resign right away or get some help!
16-25: You realize people who work for you have a life outside their workplace and you know they deserve a certain amount of respect. Still, there are times when you find it hard to control your hostility toward some of your employees. It's time for you to get a grip on your impulses and stop creating this negative atmosphere. Remember: if you don't change, eventually it'll backfire on you.
26-40: You are one of those wonderful yet rare bosses. Your employees admire you, respect you, are happy to see you every morning and are loyal to you. You too respect them, trust them and allow them to flourish and grow. The atmosphere in your department is probably warm and friendly, but more important - things are getting done efficiently and successfully. Well done!