Macho management?
The regional MD of a multinational had a great track record building brands and increasing sales and profitability. He also had a reputation for putting his team under excessive pressure and, according to some, managing through fear. The team consisted of European, American and Australasian ex-pats and local managers from East Asian countries. Interestingly, he was reputed to adopt a more considered style with the local managers who are associated with less confrontational cultures. There was concern though about the effect of his example on younger managers coming out to the region.
His team were extremely loyal, but some members were afraid to 'tell it as it is' lest they incite his wrath. Others felt that some of their peers need to be more assertive instead of whingeing.
The MD worked long-term with one of our coaches in order to broaden his portfolio of people-handling skills, and to learn to deal more effectively with his anger. This encompassed taking more care in a cross-culturally mixed environment in which ex-pats as well as local people played a significant part.
