THE AUTOCRATIC MANAGER AND THE TASK

Mark Price, former MD of Waitrose, shares his workplace fables – true stories from the business front line that can teach us lessons about career success

Phonechamp, a large mobile phone business, recruited a new intake of managers. The group was to undertake a period of training and teambuilding, before being sent out to their respective new posts. On the first day, the new managers were given a task to complete in groups.

In the first group, an Autocratic Manager immediately piped-up and appointed herself team leader.

“I have done this before,” she declared. “My friend is an expert in this area, and my previous job required me to do it, too. So it really is best if I take charge.”

Without waiting for a reply, the Autocratic Manager set about telling everyone else what to do.

The Autocratic Manager gave out 400 pieces of information

One or two of the more thoughtful members of the team spoke up to say that, perhaps, it was a good idea to ask for some more information and perhaps pool ideas. “There’s no need, really, speed is of the essence and I know what to do,” the Autocratic Manager confidently asserted. And the group carried on.

To the Autocratic Manager’s surprise, her team’s work was assessed poorly against the other groups given a similar task. The bosses at Phonechamp said they were very sorry to observe that the Autocratic Manager had given out more than 400 pieces of information and instructions, and asked for none.

Elsewhere, the most successful team members had asked for around five pieces of information before giving a response and then coming to a collective view.

Moral of the tale:

A team will always perform better than an individual when allowed and encouraged to do so. Workplace Fables: 147 True Life Stories,

by Mark Price, is published by Stour Publishing on Oct 5. To order your copy for £8.99 plus p&p, call 0844 871 1514 or visit books. telegraph.co.uk

Share your Workplace Fables and learn more about Mark’s mission to improve workplace happiness at https://engaging.works/me/ ideas