‘Hypocritical style
of management’
kills morale

Employees were confused and disheartened when Alex Smith, a 12-year employee, was overlooked by Mike Bitts, the department manager, for hiring inexperienced Bill Nichols from outside the company to be their new supervisor.

This situation is all too common in many departments and organizations around the country.

It is a situation that often destroys employee morale.

You see, a manager that preaches teamwork and then hires a supervisor from outside the organization is often viewed as a manager that practices a "hypocritical style of management," a style of management that says one thing and then does another.

This type of management style has the potential to rip the heart and soul, the passion, right out of an organization -- killing the stuff that builds loyalty, trust, cooperation, teamwork and motivation. The decision leaves in its wake an attitude to "just get by," "go through the motions" and "watch the clock". The hypocritical style of management says:

» "I Listen!" "My Door is always open." But after all is said, usually nothing gets done.

A hypocritical style of management is Insincere. It says:

If loyalty to the company and all that it stands for is wanted, then the answer is simple -- stop the hypocrisy! Be fair! Be trustworthy! Promote from within, providing the training, development, education and coaching to do so. Follow through and follow-up. Treat items from fellow associates as A-1 on your to-do list and not just the assignments you get from management.

A manager's desire for loyalty, cooperation, support and motivation from fellow associates most often is not about the money, but about the style of management he chooses to use.