In my professional career, I have encountered several hundreds of managers from different geographies. One surprising thing I have noticed is about the similarities that highly ineffective managers exhibit in their behaviour patterns. A few of these traits are listed below:

  • Autobiographical Manager: These types, at the slightest provocation, get back to their " 25 years" of experience. Such managers refuse to live in the present but tend to narrate their heroics to all and sundry not realizing that many of the examples are completely irrelevant and out of context.. During important strategic meetings, these types waste everybody's time by quoting totally out-of-context experiences in which the central figure would always be them.
  • PPT Manager: It may be surprising to note that few managers spend their entire work life on the strength of a few PPTs. They quickly morph them into the executive assistant to MD position and start working on PPT for the board meeting/strategy meeting and so on. They hardly have any clue about the ground reality but thrive on making few slides and develop great expertise in cut and paste..
  • Ignorant but Assertive  Manager: Among all varieties, this is the most dangerous variety. They hate detailed study about any subject but are supremely confident that they know everything. Added to this is the unfortunate tendency to be rude and arrogant. With this deadly combination, they are busy full-time reprimanding, abusing, insulting and dominating everyone. The office is like a wrestling arena where they have to win at any cost. They are like bulls in the china shop and in many cases carry their shops with them for demolition.
  • Child Widow Type: In India few decades back there was this very unfortunate practice of getting very young girls married before they even attain puberty. Many of the grooms whom they have never met would die due to ailment and then the child widow would have her head shaved and restrictions put on her movements. the only option for such girls would be to go to the temple and meet other child widows. The usual topic of discussion would be how the world is cruel and how unfortunate they are. Managers often adopt this posturing in the organization. Poor me is the usual refrain.
  • Moralizing Crook: If you find a manager who often talks about honesty, integrity, and character without any provocation please take that with a pinch of salt as in all likelihood he may be the one who does sexual exploitation of female colleagues, does fraud. Integrity is the word most commonly used by the crooks. Such managers will always be sermonizing about good behavior but they would break every rule in the book for themselves.