Interview with a Manager

One of my employees is taking an MA class and was asked to interview a manager of her choice. She picked me. Because of logistics I had to do it by email so I had the answers written down. Since I did, I thought I post them.

1.Identify the person you have chosen to interview and why you selected this person.

That would be me: Paul McConaughy, Program Leader, Michigan Nutrition Network

2. What is the manager's style of managing? [participatory, delegative, authoritarian, a blend]

Definitely not authoritarian…I’d call my management style “permissive expectation”. I’ve always been strongly influenced by the expectation of success. My parents and then several managers operated on the assumption “You can" do this”. That has framed my life because that is my way of treating others. I actually have a very hard time believing that anyone “can’t” do things. The second influence in my life came more from working with volunteers than employees – although I have since brought it to my management – that is the realization that while most people “can do” they don’t because they don’t think they have permission. Hence the second part of my style – giving people permission. I try to be observant of the times when people are hesitating because they are concerned about the risk of not having permission. Then I give them permission. Permissive expectation…just thought that up. Let’s trademark it for our book.

On the negative side…this style only works with motivated employees who understand that work is what you make it. People who need policing tend to fall deeper and deeper into their abyss because I tend to ignore and work around them. In a just world I’d be able to “help those people find other employment.”

5.What does the manager feel is the toughest part of the job? And why?

No question the toughest part of any job is accommodating superiors who have no vision and excitement in their jobs, who focus on rules and pick the wrong people to support.

Why…it steals your time and spirit and results in oh so much waste.

6.Similarly, what is the best part of the job and why?

A tie…1) when I see a great idea of mine come to pass 2)when I see an employee succeed with a great idea of theirs. Happy dance time!

7.What tips does the manager have for someone, such as you, being prepared to be a manager?

Step up – get every experience you can working with others – you learn this by doing it.

Reach out – put yourself in new situations, new people, new demands – stretch

Be connected – mentoring may be too formal for every situation but you can be connected to people you can ask questions to, people who will be bluntly honest with you.

Engage the people you manage – by being honest, open, forthright you will be in a position to get honest, open and forthright responses from your people about how you could be helping them perform better (that’s your job).

8.What should you concentrate on in getting yourself prepared?

Read…Everything

9.Do they feel that previous experience is a necessity?

Everyone gets better with time but everyone starts somewhere. Everyone starts without experience.

10.What do they know now that s/he wished they would have known when they started the position as a manager?

That all every high school girl wants to do is dance. If you are willing to risk stepping on the dance floor you’ll have lots of girl friends. Oh wait…wrong wish I’d known…

That the only way to manage is to “manage up” – you can’t make people do much – especially not for very long.

12.What does s/he feel is the most important or urgent issue that family community service managers need to be aware of, proactive about, or planning for the future?

How to deal with the ignorance of the Baby Boomers in leaving so much debt to children and grandchildren.

13.Any pearls of wisdom the manager can offer to you?

My favorite Winston Churchill quote: “Sometimes it’s not enough to do your best, you have to do what is required."

14.What is of most importance to you as a manager?

Learning and growing and helping my crew learn and grow….