(Time to read this Blog is about 3 1/2 minutes)

Before we get to the main topic, here are a few things to get you thinking or smiling:

1. My Biz Quote of the week:
   “Companies often say that their employees are their most important asset.  But many of those same companies treat their employees as if they’re ‘disposable’.  If you treat them as if they’re disposable, they’ll behave as if they’re disposable.”
   …Donald Cooper.
     
2. Quick Biz Tip:
   Here’s an important ‘quick question’ that I ask my Biz Coaching clients:
    
   When I start working with new Biz Coaching clients, I find that many of them do way too many of the day-to day tasks in the business, while paying managers or supervisors to watch them.
    
   People start and grow a business to a certain point because they’re great initiate takers.  They see something that needs to be done…and they do it.
    
   But, at some point, they need to build a Team and become effective ‘initiative givers’.  So, here’s the simple question I love to ask…
    
   “Are you running the business yourself, or are you creating clarity and building a Team that runs the business?  And then are you measuring performance, rewarding success and dealing with non-performance?”
     
   Here are two realities:

1. 1. Your way of doing things isn’t the only way. In fact, it may not even be the best way.
   2. You’ll never sell a business that can’t run without you.

To access my insightful Biz Tool #A-4, ‘Your 1^st Job is Clarity’, no charge, click here.

3. This is the perfect time of year for my famous Scallop Chowder!
     
   Every year at this time I remind folks about my very own “world’s best” recipe for Scallop Chowder.   If you’re allergic to scallops, use any  firm white fish…but it is better with scallops.
    
   Readers all over the world write to say that this delicious, hearty chowder is now an annual tradition at their house.  One of our readers made a giant pot of it for his employees, as a special treat. They loved it.  To access the recipe, click here.
      
4. It’s extra important to give ‘local’ gifts this year:  As the Big Box stores thrive and on-line shopping takes off, local businesses are struggling.  We all know that.  You can help them by giving ‘local’ gifts or Gift Certificates this holiday season.  If you do, they can stay in business to serve you in the future.
    
5. How can I be helpful? If your company, Industry Association or local Business Group has a Conference coming up in 2025, and you need an insightful, entertaining, bottom-line management speaker who will inform, focus, challenge and inspire you, perhaps we should chat about possibilities.  I’m easy to find at donald@donaldcooper.com.

Now, to this week’s important topic:

What’s your Management Style…authoritarian, democratic, or somewhere in between? 

Across the world we’re in a critical debate and battle between the effectiveness, morality and sustainability of authoritarianism versus democracy.  In business, there’s a similar debate about the merits and effectiveness of an authoritarian ‘my way or the highway’ approach to management and a more democratic approach. 

‘Authoritarianism’ simply won’t cut it in business today, especially with Gen Z and Millennial (age 20 to 40) employees. Your best people will leave and the mediocre and poor performers will take ‘I don’t give a dam pills’, keep showing up and hope you don’t notice.

My belief is that every business should encourage a culture of ‘respectful debate’.  Ask, then listen and learn.  As I’ve said 100 times before, “Our Team members at all levels know stuff…and they hate it when we don’t ask.”   When we don’t ask, they think we don’t care and, if we don’t care, why should they? 

But, when everyone has said their two cents worth of ‘respectful debate’, a decision still has to be made.  Explain why you’ve made the decision you’ve made (“Because I said so!” is not a reason) and then everyone needs to get on the same page and enthusiastically support that decision.  No sabotage…no grumbling…no stonewalling!  A few of my Biz Coaching clients have had a problem with ‘sabotage and stonewalling’, and we’ve put an end to that.

I had another client a few years back who said, “I’m not comfortable making a decision until everyone is in agreement with it.”…so no decisions were made and the business ground to a halt.  This ‘consensus management’ approach is just nuts!  Your staff have a right to disagree.  They just don’t have the right to obstruct.  And, if the company keeps making decisions that they fundamentally disagree with, they should have the guts and self-respect to leave.  They’re not a good fit and they should move on!

I’d love to have your thoughts on the merits of various ‘Management Styles’.  I’m easy to find at donald@donadcooper.com .

That’s it for this week…

Stay safe…live brilliantly!       

Donald Cooper 

Donald Cooper speaks and coaches internationally on management, marketing, and profitability.  He can be reached by email at donald@donaldcooper.com in Toronto, Canada.