Fantasy16
How would you respond to the following statements? Statement 1:…
How would you respond to the following statements?
Statement 1:
This week we’re discussing Douglas McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y concept. I previously read about this a few years back either in a management class or development event. It breaks apart two different management approaches.
Theory X can be seen has having a micromanagement approach to leading people. Managers who apply traits of this theory can often assume employees are extrinsically motivated and do not enjoy their work and they simply show up just to receive a paycheck; avoid responsibility and require direction; employees must have control mechanisms in place to ensure productivity. This theory can be characterized as using a “carrot and stick” approach to provide incentives for the work of their employees.
Conversely, Theory Y managers tend to use a decentralized management model that is viewed as being more participative. Theory Y typically makes the assumptions that employees can be intrinsically motivated, show initiative, ownership, and are capable of accepting responsibility for their scope of work with little direction.
Since working for my current organization for the last two years I can see both theories of management approaches being used. Unfortunately, these are not always applied correctly. Since we are an organization that promotes from within, I often see young and inexperienced managers replicating what their predecessors did or techniques that their prior managers used, and it never fits everyone. It typically takes a few leadership challenges and steering from senior managers to show baseline managers how to apply techniques based on individuals and situations.
In my experience and observations good leaders understand their employees, why they are there, and what motivates them. This is only one part of the equation though. The second piece is having the experience and maturity to tailor the management approach to each employee or supervisor to ensure managers are managing as effective as possible. For instance; someone who is a self-starter, knowledgeable in their field, and has aspirations to excel, will likely benefit from a Theory Y approach. Now when we apply this to a newer member who has expressed that their only interest is showing up to accomplish what they have to in order to collect a check, this person and the organization will likely benefit from a Theory X approach.
Due to the members of my organization and most personality types I would assess us to have a majority of managers who use a Theory Y approach more often than not. There are a few exceptions that tend to favor a Theory X approach but again, some of that is maturity and knowing the employees.
Statement 2:
Great job with your post on the leadership personality types. I like how you explained the ins and outs of theory X and Y. In thinking about these two typologies, do you see yourself as more of one than the other? Can a person have a little of both?
