The manager of our previous story is, unfortunately, prototypical. They are the kind of person that has been promoted thanks to their technical skill. They are used to being hands-on and having all the answers. Because of that, when faced with the complexities and fast pace of modern teamwork, they usually fail.
Part of the problem comes from managers failing to realize that their new job is very different and demands new skills, such as organizing a team to find answers instead of being a know-it-all. As a result, they rely on the behaviors that have brought them success in the past, instead of searching for new mental models.
Unfortunately, most organizations are also stuck in a rather old understanding of management, leading them to divide work in counterproductive ways and be ill-prepared managers. Overwork, stress,...
