I once attended a public forum where a candidate was trying to land the job of his lifetime. It was one of those jobs that was just way out of reach and completely foreign to the candidate, but he showed up anyway and dazzled no one - except perhaps himself. It was obvious to everyone that the position required a geat mind, a cunning sense of political strategy and diplomatic prowess. The candidate had a heartbeat - so he was infinitely qualified to fill the position in middle management. He landed the job and hasn't worked since.
It is common knowledge among employees that middle managers, hired under certain regimes, have absolutely no charisma, intellect or initiative. They serve as "yes men" and never step in the way of their master. Their job is to laugh at their master's jokes, spew forth support and affirmation when directed, and gather tidbits of information when no one sees them lurking. They carry their collected data back to the lair and wait to be told what to think, feel and say. They have no will of their own. They have no real purpose at work but to thwart progress and wait to take a bullet for their master.
The era of public service by public servants is seemingly behind us. Public servants were once born into their industry and served without regard for income or perks. They worked without fatigue to serve their community and never slept until every opportunity was harnessed for the benefit of the public. Today, public service is rapidly becoming infected with thoughtless dolts, fashioned from incompetence and sloth. They seem more interested in maximizing income and minimizing productive hours of service. They seem to pop up without warning for some kind favor performed in an earlier episode, or for unfaltering and enthusiastic support of anything suggested by their superiors.
Worse still is that this new trend is a result of an utter and absolute absence of management at all levels. The people at the top cannot manage staff so they hire stooges that will never question the directives of their superiors. In return, the stooges hire imbeciles that will never threaten or challenge their superiors. The end result is a mass exodus of human resources. Through frustrating and intellectually starving qualified staff, all initiative is driven from the premises and individuals must shift their priorities toward something away from the office. It is a shame but without great management, staff potential shrivels up and withers away.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
WOW, that one hurts the "yes men" we all know who you are. How do we stop these people sitting all day on the computers? sitting surfing the internet all day.Get off the computer and do something even if it's wrong.JUST DO SOMETHING!
Nick can you do something about this? Not one Muddled management got hit with layoffs! they hired more stupid visors.
Do you know what it's like to work for Dave Kreig on his bad day? I do, Fumble Fumble all the time.
I remember, do you.
Worse yet, when they're caught dead to rights with pornography on their district computer, HR skews what should be a no brainer investigation, and Oh my gosh, he's off the hook. Some other force is to blame. I am still sick about this. It was and is still a horrible injustice to the community. This person is still employed in the district, his wife still works in HR, and there seems to be no end in sight on the blunder train. My question for the district would be as follows.....You routinely fire custodians for this same practice. Why do you hold a brain dead middle manager to a lower standard? Let me make perfectly clear, that this activity was proven by forensics, to be under his district name, and his district password. Not much wiggle room eh?
Dave Kreig did cough a bit, but by no means did him or his wife steal from children. I guess you just don't care enough, when your kids are in someone elses custody, AND not in the Edmonds school district. Clock is ticking "Big Boy".
Who is Doug Nathan? Inkgarden.com? Was he the clown at maintenance that handed out bibles for $20,000.00?
With regard to the outrageous issue of continued employment by an employee who was discovered had downloaded pornography on their computer the other real crime here enacted by the District (besides not dismissing this person from their supposed position of responsibility) was that suspicion was cast on the other employees in an act of diverting guilt and even though all of these others were found innocent no official act of exoneration was extended or enacted. These are men with wives & children and the District treated them all with incredible disrespect.
These middle management positions pay an average yearly income of about $105.000.00. They do not support staff, have any real responsibilities, accountability and are superfluous & unnecessary to the effective daily function of most of the departments in which they are assigned.
Whenever budget cuts come up these positions are bypassed. Many have actually received unmerited raises during years that their performances were not honestly evaluated and staff are never asked for any input or opinion.
We could get 2 excellent teachers and a paraeducator on a straight trade. Any offers?
Amen to this one! I couldn't have said it any better myself!
Post a Comment