Several years ago I recall having a conversation with a five year old. He kept referring to “the good old days.” I said what do you mean by the good old days? His reply, “it wasn’t as stressful and people were nicer and more polite.” And this is coming out of the mouth of someone who hasn’t even started first grade!

One thing that is certain in life and in this world today is the uncertainty of the future.

Change has been with us for thousands of years and the only difference today is the relentless pace of change that is being driven by technology and economic demands, needs struggles and circumstances.

There are a number of national and international organizations that are still being run by old school managers and executives. These individuals, many of them, are locked in a style of doing business that may have worked ten or twenty years ago, but times are a changing.

Many of these executives and managers are going to find themselves on the outside looking in and wondering how did they get left behind, when did they get left behind and is it too late to catch up.

Believe me, I remember and miss the simpler and gentler times of years gone by. I miss the ease and pace of life of many years ago, but I am not too old yet to understand the need for each of us to do a better job of blending simplicity with progress. Some people have become slaves to technology while others refuse to even accept that it is here to stay and there is nothing they can do to stop it, slow it down or hide from it.

Many business owners, executives and managers are still operating under the “old school” management style. Let’s see if you are one of them.

The old school manager, business owner or executive is:

a top down autocrat while giving lip service to bottom up responsibility, decision making, goal setting and problem solving. They are arrogant, closed minded, and often aloof and inaccessible. They believe to win means beating someone else. They are concerned that other people in their organization don't get too much; recognition, compensation, responsibility or freedom. They believe that people should sacrifice their families, health and personal agendas for the sake of the organization. They are very competitive and would sell their children for a customer. They are price and profit driven. They use people up. They often feel they are invincible. They use threats, economic leverage and fear to get results and they are only concerned about what they get.

Whereas the successful manager/executive of the future:

Listens to his/her employees, customers, suppliers and works at creating partnerships both inside and outside the organization. They empower people by pushing decision making, authority, accountability, problem solving, goal setting and risk taking down through the organization. They create a strong team approach to projects, programs, objectives and solving problems. They encourage cooperation and open honest communication. They reward creativity, mistakes that contribute to improvements and honest feedback. They see change as an opportunity to grow. They see problems as necessary to modify systems, strategies, policies and procedures. They are reflective, responsive and accessible. They are driven by creating quality of life for their employees, customers and the community. They are not selfish with the fruits of their employees labors. They share openly and fairly. They trust and believe in their people. They are concerned about values, the environment and relationships.

Quite a contrast, wouldn't you say. It should be an easy task to determine where you fit. You may not fall 100% into either group, but I'll bet you have more of one groups characteristics than the other.

The challenge is that if you fall into the old school category, it is time to look around you and notice that the world is changing. If you are in the progressive group don't assume you have it made. Everyday you will have your attitudes, values, expectations and perceptions challenged. You are not home free yet. You must keep the vigil as you grow your organization, department or division into the next century. There will be plenty of new obstacles, challenges and problems to test your resolve.

So just relax and enjoy the roller coaster ride into the future.




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