There's more than one 'right' way to manage

Inc. Magazine recently ran a piece about Stan Richards, owner of the Richards Group ad agency in Dallas.

By almost any measure, he has been wildly successful. His business has been around for over 35 years. They’ve created a slew of memorable work. The agency employs over 650 people.

And I thank my lucky stars I’m not one of them.

You see, Stan runs a tight ship. Everyone must punch in at 8:30 am or they get their pay docked. And Stan himself sounds like quite the task master, rarely delivering a smile, let alone a compliment.

For me, the thought of a drill sergeant docking my pay for every minute I come in late sounds like the most uninspiring bunch of BS I can imagine. But others may need someone riding their ass all day. To-may-to, to-mah-to.

Ultimately, I think agencies need to be more flexible. They need to hire managers with varying styles, so every employee gets the support he or she needs. And managers themselves need to be flexible as well. Someone in your group might need a little tough love every once in a while, while others may recoil when you pull out the whip. The most successful managers are those who know what their people need. 

And the easiest way to find this out? Ask them.

I know, it sounds crazy. But if you actually communicate with your people, you can find out stuff. Take them to lunch. Have a brief in-office meeting. Or, if you prefer something more formal, put it all in writing. 

It may be easier to simply say ‘my way or the highway’. But don’t be surprised when your spurned employees take that highway to another agency, axe in hand, ready to grind.