Role of the General Manager

By Alex J. Pollock, 8/1989 

Broad Tasks   |  What Works Well 

1. Build the system of communication | Consistent display of integrity - insight into strengths and weaknesses 

2. Put the right people in the right places | Never be threatened by subordinates - appreciate the best - think long and carefully about managerial change 

3. Give an emotional meaning to the enterprise | Repetition of themes - consistency of words and actions 

4. Imagine and form robust approaches to the future | Time to think - study the long past - flexible ideas 

5. Create openness to the outside | Broad interests - not taking self too seriously - customer focus 

6. Insure the development and maintenance of key competences | Always have little experiments running - build as they succeed - honor the old and new key skills and knowledge 

7. Create psychological security, the ground for common action, out of uncertainty and risks  | Self confidence - be an emotional exporter 

8. Balance between the uncaring outside world demanding change, and the emotional inside organization longing for stability. | Perspective - guiding and teaching - getting others to want to do what is needed - patience