Page 88 - MY STORY

ETHICS IN MANAGEMENT AND MANAGEMENT STYLE

My boss, Joe W, provided all of us who worked for him a

leadership style that imbued direct and honest
communication, exceptional ethical standards, and a lack

of tolerance for behavior that would negatively affect the
relationship and operation of his team. Joe would never
let anybody talk negatively about any other member of
his team privately.

If anyone attempted to do that Joe would call the accusing

and receiving parties to his office, tell them they had a
problem to resolve, and expect them to do it right there
and then, as he walked out of his office. If they could not

settle their differences in one hour or less he let them
know that he would settle the problem, but they might not
like the solution.

When I got promoted to Section Chief, it was like being
put in never-never land. It was really difficult for me to

accept the fact that I was now appointed to lead people
that I had been working with as equals for years. At my
first performance review, as a newly minted manager, Joe

made it clear that I was focused on being too nice a person
instead of leading by example and gaining the respect of