Being a manager is like being a…
March 4, 2008 by David Zinger
Filed under Business
What is your metaphor for being a manager?
Metaphors help us understand our work and also help us to be playful with what we do. Do you have a metaphor for yourself?
For example: Being a manager is like being a floor tile. You provide support, you need to fit in, and if you don’t watch out you will get stepped on.
I encourge anyone who wants to take a stab at this to complete the following structure in the comments for this post:
Being a manager is like being a ______. You ____, You _____, and if you don’t watch out you’ll______.
Yes, if you are an English teacher you could also call this a simile.
I will send a Canadian Loonie, that is our $1.00 Canadian coin, to the person who offers the metaphor that I think is the most playful and insightful.
I am doing this because I think you have to be a little “loony” to engage in this creation and maybe a little loony just to be a manager.
Have fun and find insight!
Photo Credit: Loonie by http://flickr.com/photos/entozoa/113794369/
David Zinger is like a …
being a manager is like being a sado-masochist; a sadist to your direct reports; a masochist to those above you…..
Being a manager is like being a punching bag You take punches from below, You take punches from above, and if you don’t watch out you’ll be punching yourself.
Milan and James,
Sounds like we are into some tough management experiences here. I think I will go out and get some punch rather than take a punch!
David
Being a manager is a bit like putting yourself on the chopping block. You train and develop others to do their best job without needing your help to do it, you change a team to manage themselves and be accountable, focused and results driven, and if you don’t watch out, you’ll have many people MORE than capable of your job and no one really needing you anymore.
Some may see this as a bad thing, for me, its my goal. That will leave me with even bigger things to go do next!!!
Thanks for fun post and everyone else’s comments!!
TO Mike King – From all the leadership books that I have read you are on the mark! A good leader is one who brings up others to become leaders themselves – so BRAVO to you!
Mike: I can’t wait to get my chops in! A like the metaphor.
Being a manager is like being a torch. You provide the light in a crises, You are always to hand, and if you don’t watch out you’ll run out of energy unless you recharge your batteries.
Very enlightening this torch metaphor. Makes me think of the olympics. Of course, the only 5 rings I will ever see are the rings around my bath tub!
Who won?
Andrew
Mike King was the winner with the chopping block metaphor
Great choice!
Love it,
Andrew
Of course your torch metaphor is very strong with the olympic year!