Fun & Famous

 5 THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM MALE MANAGERS

A couple weeks back I wrote (check it out here) about what men can learn from female managers. We have a different way of approaching things than our broad shouldered friends. That doesn’t mean that they don’t have pro’s, because there are things we can learn from men too.

1. Straight to the point

“If you wipe your ass with my rules, I wipe my ass with your contract,” my father once said to a rebellious sailor. Okay, might be somewhat bold but hey, he was at sea with a bunch of wild types. That means you need straight to the point rules. I would say (my father is the sweetest and there’s a lot you can learn from him): “I know you’re homesick and didn’t eat well yesterday, but I would appreciate it if you…” Doesn’t work. Like I said, you need to be straight to the point. That way everyone knows what they’re up for.

2. Review performance

Men look at digits. Did you deliver good work? Did you make a profit? Get the highest numbers? Great. Women look at the road to get there. Someone worked hard, had a difficult time, but given the circumstances it was all decent. That 70 is more like a 90. A man will never do this. You’re at work, you should be reviewed on your performances and achievements. Don’t have the right mentality to head to the office? He’d like to know.

3. Not too close

I don’t know about you, but I always want to love my colleagues. It makes work a lot more fun but also less clear making it hard to give them feedback when you know they’re dealing with a breakup/taking care of a sick sister/has serious money problems/PMSing. Male bosses don’t struggle with this. And he doesn’t care if you unfollow him on Instagram. He probably doesn’t even have Instagram.

4. You walk that extra mile

I asked our lifestyle editor what the pro’s are of having a male boss and she immediately said: “Well, you walk that extra mile for the handsome guy.” Let me start off by saying I didn’t use the word handsome, but maybe it is a part of the male-female balance that you always want to work even harder for the opposite sex. All feminists must hate me right now, but I’m pretty sure that is how it works.

5. Don’t hold grudges

I’ve worked with quite a few men who could have serious cases of tantrums. There I was seated beside candles and an etagere filled with blueberry muffins, he’d suddenly beat his fist on the table and scream about everything that was going wrong. Everyone sat quite behind their desks, he would leave the office and say: “There. Time to shake things up here.” And then it was over.

Men, sometimes they’re so easy.