This isn’t about being a working mom or dad. I’m talking about taking on a maternal/paternal perspective at work. How to recognize if you’ve gone too far? You do the following:
- You make excuses for members of your team. “Johnny had a bad weekend, he had a fight with his girlfriend so he hasn’t been able to come to work on time.”
- You step in and do your people’s work: “Just give it to me, I’ll do it for you.”
- You give the work to someone else: “Joe, can you do this instead of Johnny?”
- You micromanage the team. On everything. It’s the equivalent of “Do you have your homework?”
If you work for a manager like this, it might feel good. They’re always protecting and shielding you. But, you’re also not being held accountable and being developed. And some day, you won’t work for a “parent-manager”, you’ll work for someone who is expecting you to do your job, regardless. Then what?
“Parent-managers”- I know it’s hard. You care, that’s why you do it. But everyone has to grow up and leave the nest. You want them to be prepared.