Page: 1
autocratic vs (opposite of autocratic) management in the workplace and its effects on productivity
Bosses Management Style -vs- Workplace Productivity
Over the past twenty plus years, I have worked for many different bosses in the manufacturing
and machining industry. I witnessed first hand how a bosses job performance and management
style has a direct effect on the overall productivity of a business. I do not believe any of the
bosses I have worked for had any formal training or education to prepare them for their
leadership roles as a boss. Most were promoted into their job as a boss from a machinist based
on the following:
1) Being related to an upper management person.
2) Being friends with another boss or upper management person.
3) Being the highest seniority machinist in an area.
4) Having outstanding performance and skill as a machinist.
Reviewing the above criteria as qualifications to be promoted to a boss, notice that nothing is
mentioned of communication, motivational or leadership skills. As a result of the above criteria as
qualifications to be promoted as a boss, the selected individual is often a very poor candidate,
and the overall workforce morale suffers. Unhappy, unmotivated workers are usually not as
resourceful, productive, or as likely to think of or implement cost saving ideas. A good boss
has good communication, motivational and leadership skills, will back up his workers, and identify
and utilize every workers strong and weak points and assign work accordingly. A good bosses
workforce will more often than not, be a happy, motivated group that will go the distance without
pressure and give more than 100%, most of the time, improving the company’s bottom line.