Managing a manager..!!

The word 'manager' has been so distorted that it has become synonymous with 'manipulator', 'team-overhead', 'non-value add', 'meddler' and what not. Partly, this distortion is well-deserved and justified because of the displayed behavior, action (or non-action), and character of the person in the managerial position. What the heck a manager is supposed to do anyway?

If you ask this question to any manager, he would probably say - plan, organize, control, coordinate and some similar bull crap! How can they ever improve or monitor themselves - if they don't what they are supposed to do? Most of their time is spent on dousing daily fires - seldom reflective/proactive - frequent interruptions - politicking - bossing around/supervising: do these activities suggest planning, organizing and other such superlatives...?

I liked one of the classic HBR articles which talked about what a manager ideally is supposed to do! In brief, he needs to perform ten roles - categorized under interpersonal roles (3), informational roles (3), and decisional roles (4); If one understands these 10 roles and their interplay, I am sure any manger appreciates their true sense and improves accordingly and no one would mistake 'manipulator' for 'manager'; The roles are: Figurehead, Leader, Liaison; Monitor, Disseminator, Spokesperson; Entrepreneur, Disturbance handler, resource allocator, Negotiator

tata...Satish