In preparation for a seminar I was doing, I reviewed a wonderful book called "The 2R Manager," (Jossey Bass, 2002) for which I recommend a lot.
It was written by Peter Friedes, the former CEO of Hewitt Associates, the HR consulting firm.
Pete's basic insight is that, to be effective in managing others, we must know both how to be "requiring" of people (that's the first R) -- make sure that they deliver on and live up to the tasks they take on. A manager must also, however, do this in a way that "Relates" (the second R) to each individual.
These two dimensions can define nine kinds of managers:
The first four are the extremes:
- The Abdicator: low requiring, low relating
- The Demander: high requiring, low relating
- The Pleaser: low requiring, high relating
- The Overwhelmer: high requiring, high relating
Then there are four which are less problematical, but still less than perfect:
- The Supervisor: About right requiring, but low relating
- The Friend: About right relating, but low requiring
- The Encroacher: About right requiring, but high relating
- The Energiser: About right relating, but high requiring
The best, in Pete's view, is someone who is about right in both requiring and relating:
- The 2R Manager.
Which are you? Which is your boss?
4 comments:
As an exercise in applying the 2R categories, how would you all categorise the boss in the sitcom The Office?
I haven't read the 2R book (though I'm utterly intrigued) but I'm thinking he's low on requiring.
As for relating?
Wouldn't that depend on whether we're looking at quantity or quality of relating?
He definitely tries to be the pleaser but I can't say he's pleasing anyone other than himself.
Pete Friedes asked me to post this response to Diana's question:
Michael in The Office is definitely a "Pleaser" and like most pleasers doesn't please anyone.
He is a severe Over-Relater and non-existent Requirer.
Very interesting division.
Sure that the book is needed to be researched closely.
re: Micheal Scott (The Office)
Though Michael Scott is ficticious, I think he demostrates the point that this 3x3 grid needs a fourth row and column -- managers that are over-the-top in either relating or requiring.
Or is it the case that if you are over the top in either you are automatically deficient in the other -- if you're over-Requiring you're almost certainly non-Relating?
No it can't be that extreme; I've known some people that are over-Relating and still adequately Requiring...
Post a Comment