7 Types of Managers: The Good, The Bad, and The Dementors
In my six years of working full-time, I have reported to 11 different managers. Yep, you read that right, 11. For you math enthusiasts, that’s an average of 1.8 managers a year…meaning it was rare if one lasted all the way to a full year review.
You must be thinking that I’m a nightmare direct report, but I will start this by saying none of my managers have actually left or quit because of me (as far as I know).
I think it’s safe to say I’ve experienced pretty much the entire range of different management types out there — so I thought it’d be fun to do a little breakdown of some of the most memorable ones.
The Mentor
Ah, the ideal, unicorn mentor you hope to be lucky enough to find in your career. They give you tangible feedback that helps you grow and learn while still letting you flail around a bit on your own to see what works. They’re invested in your growth as much as theirs, and will leave you feeling that you can do anything with them in your corner.
This person cares about you and your future, but doesn’t overstep too far into your personal world. They trust you to get your sh*t done, and you’ll feel motivated to make them proud. Spoiler alert: This manager type is hands-down my favorite (and pretty much everyone else’s, too).
The Talker
Instead of having separate daily tasks and projects from each other, everything with this manager is a conversation and collaboration. Waiting on them to review something? Let’s sit down and review it together “real quick”. *Insert Spongebob voice: Three hours later* Packing up for the day to dive headfirst on your couch? Let’s hang out and small talk about our upcoming weekends first.
This manager isn’t necessarily bad, but if you make yourself too available your productivity will take a serious hit. They feel a strong need to be your friend above all else, which can get awkward when they’ve overshared then have to put their manager pants on again.
The Promiser
As the title indicates, this type of manager is all talk (with the occasional rare glimpse of action). They are eager to get you to like them, but often lack the gusto to actually follow through on anything promised. They like to feel like the hero promising shiny things such as career paths and upward mobility, but when it’s time for the rubber to meet the road they’ll likely fall flat with excuses.
It’s not usually an intentional mislead, but rather a good-natured promise that they later realize may have been too grand. Nevertheless, it’s easy to fall into the trap and constant cycle of thinking they might actually follow through this time, only to be disappointed.
The Disruptor
Oh man, where to begin with this one… This type of manager has a lot of opinions and isn’t afraid to share them. They often come into the position hotter than a 7-Eleven drip coffee (seriously, whoever sets the temp in those machines really doesn’t like skin), and they’ll start openly ripping on everything that’s wrong with previous efforts from day one.
While some disruption and thoughtful change is good, it soon becomes apparent that this person just likes to point out problems without offering any semblance of a solution to them. This is one of the types that drains your soul: You’ll start to wonder why you have so much dread going to work, or why you’re feeling so completely meh about everything as of late. Welp, time to find a new hobby or something to do outside of work to keep you going, because — trust me — the negativity can be contagious.
The Dreamer
With a more positive spin, this manager is the type who sees what isn’t great and has the sparkly optimism of someone who’s brand spankin’ new. Often not tethered to our home planet (or perhaps has never had to make a business case to Steven from finance), this person thinks that the corporate world is their oyster and that they’ll have the stamina and power to change it all at once.
While usually good-intentioned and able to change a small number of things, The Dreamer typically transforms into one of the other mentioned types after around 6 months or so on the job. When reality hits them like a freight train, they start to lose hope — and all you can really do is pray they don’t morph into The Disruptor instead.
The Coaster
This manager may actually have a superpower for being invisible, because reporting to them certainly feels like they are. No one really knows how they coasted to the high-paying position they’re in now, as this person is pretty apathetic about most things. They are nice to you and will make some promises to be polite, but really they are the equivalent to the dad who’s “totally watching” his kid at the nearest sports bar that happens to be playing Sunday football.
If you like working autonomously and not to be bothered, this manager might be perfect for you. However, when a tough decision needs to be made or you’re looking for any sort of passion, effort, or support, you definitely shouldn’t hold your breath.
The Micromanager
This person isn’t quite sure what they are doing, so they need to know about every single little thing you do instead. Whether it’s the pressure of making sure they look good or just an overall question of what they should do with their hands, this manager requires countless check-ins and steps of communication and approval for anything. If you’re like me and prefer to be autonomous and not tell them what you ate for lunch and what you’re working on every second of the day, this is another type that will slowly drain your soul.
Rather than trust their team to get it done, they micromanage everyone until no one really wants to do anything for them anymore. They may not intentionally be trying to do your job for you, but this style typically crushes creativity and that awesome feeling of accomplishment on finished projects — replacing it with a “thank god that’s over and done with” every time.
The Conclusion
While it’s nice to have a manager type that you prefer, you really never know what you’re gonna get. The best lesson I’ve learned through my own personal journey is that you control your own fate — you can’t fully rely on someone else to push you ahead in your career or magically save you from your struggles.
No matter the type of manager you’re stuck with, there’s a lesson to be learned (both about yourself and working with other people). Take all your feedback into consideration to determine whether it’s true or a personal projection, and ultimately know yourself and your worth.
Like most bad relationships, you’ll look back later in life at what felt like the absolute worst and realize you became better from it in some way. After so many managers with such varying styles, I personally was able to determine what I appreciated (and didn’t) in a manager and use it to shape how I manage my own direct reports. And, if you do have one of the more ideal types, count your blessings and enjoy it because you’re one of the lucky ones.
