Do you think gentle and soft person can reach senior management level?
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
Singapore
March 19, 2011 8:51am CST
Many people holding senior management posts are very tough.
They have to withstand the pressure from the shareholders or the competing colleagues.
They have to make tough decision, such as terminating the service of the workers when profit goes down.
Do you think a gentle and soft hearted person can ever reach senior management level? Let us not discuss about family business.
It is practically a given that family members will be the management team, even if they are useless.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
20 Mar 11
I think it depends on the person, the company and the culture. There is such a thing as being too soft though, so if the person were not at all assertive and didn't communicate, well they would not make a good manager.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
20 Mar 11
Hi Canellita, I think those people who are too soft get bullied by their subordinates, instead of leading them.
It is hard for the gentle and soft people to handle difficult persons, especially those with performance issue.
If they do not know how to manage those with poor work performance, those who are hardworking will leave the team.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
6 May 11
Hi Canellita, that is why I say soft and gentle person.
It is true that many people can be gentle and yet forceful in a sense.
However, you will never see a soft and gentle person becomes forceful or stand firm when face with pressure from the board of directors.
I have given some thoughts before starting this discussion. The key words are "soft and gentle."
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
5 May 11
I think a bully will try to force the issue with even a manager who is seen as having a strong personality. I think it is very possible for a gentle person to know how to be firm. I think though, that you and I mean something different when we refer to a gentle person.
@06MLam (620)
•
20 Mar 11
I think a successful senior within a company should be both tough and soft but at different situation. For example, they always have to compete with their colleagues and there is no friends at this moment what they have to do is to be tough and to show their best performance to their boss so that they can eliminate the other competitiors and get promoted and this is bisically what we can learn from the natural world, 'survival of the fittest'. They also have to be having good leadership so that they can organise their teams to perform as best as they can. However, I think a good leader in the senior management team should be soft to their workers sometimes so that they can encourage their workers to have more motivation to work for them and therefore they should not be too tough to their workers generally but they should show their disagreement to those workers who do not make any contribution to the company at tall strongly because these people are wasting the money and resources of the company and should be fired if there is no improvement made so as to remind all other workers that they have to make some contribution to the company in order to be able to stay for the job.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
26 Mar 11
Hi 06MLam, I understand what you mean.
It is just that using a soft approach in business does not mean a person is very soft in nature.
If a person is very soft in nature, I doubt he or she will act tough or treat others as competitors.
Those really soft hearted ones will never think of using ways to get themselves promoted into managerial ranks.
They are probably more spiritual minded, and more willing to give up a job to do missionary work.
@millertime (1394)
• United States
20 Mar 11
I think, by nature, most softhearted people don't want senior management positions. They would tend to avoid positions where they would have to make hard decisions that might adversely affect other people. But if they did, their type of personality would be seen as weak by upper management types and they probably wouldn't be considered for the position.
The people that are in charge of running big companies are going to promote managers that have proven themselves by demonstrating that they can make the tough decisions when they need to without hesitation. While there is always an exception to the rule, not many softhearted people can make those choices so generally, they won't hold the positions of power within a big company.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
20 Mar 11
Hi Millertime, that is very true.
I think many softhearted persons are not keen to supervise others, and to point out the faults of their people.
They probably do not like all the backstabbing in the office too.
If they get a promotion, even to middle manager role, they will feel very pressurized by the departmental politics.
Fighting for more budget and promotions for their people are very tough.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
20 Mar 11
I don't think that you have to a coldhearted person to achieve high ranking in managment. You do have to be serious about your efforts though. You can still be gentle and soft and still get the job done.@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
20 Mar 11
Hi Sender, get the job done is not the only reason for promotion.
In fact, getting the job done is part of the current duties.
Most top managers have to make very tough decisions, such as downsizing the whole department, and make many people jobless.
They also have to fight for the promotions of their people, and fight for more budget for their department.
I doubt gentle and soft people are good at bargaining, and standing up to their bosses.
@Bellapop (1279)
•
19 Mar 11
I think someone who has a gentle manner is able to succeed as a senior level manager - it is the decisions they make and how they deal and respond to situations and people that determine their competence. Being 'gentle' does not mean being 'soft' or submissive. I met a manager the other day who appeared quite mild mannered and friendly and also another who seemed more robust and aggressive. I was more willing to give more respect to the more 'gentle' manager as he appeared very sure of himself, definitive in his action, friendly and very professional. You don't have to be 'aggressive' to get to the top.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
19 Mar 11
Hi Bellapop, I agree with your assessment.
Gentle persons are better managers too, since they are well liked by their colleagues and subordinates.
That is why I mention about gentle and soft.
Some people are naturally very gentle and soft hearted.
They cannot bear the thoughts of giving bad news to their subordinates.
If the terminated staff cried and begged for another chance, they would give in to the request.
I have seen gentle managers who are firmed with their people.
I have also seen gentle and soft managers who get bullied by their people. That is why I wonder if the second group of middle managers can reach the senior management post.
@tiffnkeat (1673)
• Singapore
19 Mar 11
You are mostly right for our country. They want people who thinks alike the senior management in order to be one of them.
For gentle and soft, to reach senior management, the most likely positions are in support functions. For operations, they have to be the tough and ruthless when need be kind. These people get more profile and attention too.
Is your experience similar?
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
19 Mar 11
Hi Tiffnkeat, I think it is impossible for the gentle and soft to reach senior management level even in support role.
In fact, many HR managers, sales managers, purchasing managers and other managers in support roles are very tough.
They may not even yield to pressure from the top.
They will fight for their rights, and refuse to give in, unless the top management takes over the matter, and sign on the dotted lines.
Just too bad for the gentle and soft people.
They seem to get all the s-h-i-t jobs, and yet pass over for promotions.
Their superiors always give excuse that they are too soft, not capable of managing a team of subordinates.
