As a manager of a large team, I accept that the buck stops with me if things go wrong. But I have been criticised by colleagues for not holding some of my team members accountable when they fail to deliver. How can I make the staff realise they too are responsible for their actions as, if they fail, it has repercussions further down the line? At the same time I don't want to look like the guy that just blames everyone else when things go wrong. IP, Abu Dhabi
The balance between holding people to account and pointing the finger of blame is a challenge for many managers, especially those with large and varied teams. You’re mindful of how much to challenge and how much to support, treating people fairly and consistently, while realising that people and their contributions can be very different.
I have coached many managers who have received direct feedback from peers or their line manager stating that they are too soft with staff when they fail to deliver. Yet when subordinates give feedback they actually feel that same manager is a harsh taskmaster. Your position in the hierarchy and the motives of the feedback giver can often alter their experience and opinion of you.
To consistently drive performance, without looking like “that guy that who just blames others when things go wrong”, it’s extremely important your team is able to make the transition from personal responsibility to group accountability. While you have accountability for ensuring successful delivery, they too are responsible.
But not all employees are capable of understanding this. Some may want you to take a direct approach to managing them, while others need something different. Your challenge is to work out which it is.
If we take a traditional view of management, you should be trying to hold people to account. The title of “manager” itself implies “managing” those who cannot “manage” themselves. This involves having clear roles, measured performance, evaluating outcomes and providing reward and recognition if things go well – and holding people’s feet to the fire if things do not.
Now think about some of the leaders who have inspired you. The chances are that they allowed you to take ownership of your workload, making your own choices and taking a more collaborative approach. This type of leadership only happens in environments where there is challenge, collaboration, coaching and creative freedom: liberating for some, but confusing for others.
Think about this for a second. Which do you want to be? What your colleagues are really saying is your management style fits most of your team – but not everyone. But this doesn’t mean that coming down harder on underperformers will automatically help. There is no sense in using accountability as a control factor with people who simply don’t care or lack the capability or confidence.
This situation is as much about how you distribute praise with high performers as well as how you address poor performance. What colleagues who have raised this topic are using as a reference is their own mental textbook of “what good management looks like”. The thinking behind their criticisms will be much more related to how they have experienced management in the past and how they typically manage their own teams. You may be more comfortable with a strengths-based approach. Keeping high performers in your team happy with more public praise may be the quickest way to adjust others’ estimation of your management style, and could even inspire your more sluggish team members to greater heights.
Doctor's prescription:
Management and leadership requires you to hold on and then let go of the reins almost simultaneously, and it’s a tight balancing act. Some people will want to see you driving for results, whereas others will be more concerned with whether you are a fair, considerate and understanding boss. Cleverly positioning ownership and accountability as both a personal and collective choice gives your people the freedom to set their own boundaries, but accountability will almost always rest with you. Find a way to showcase the strengths of all your team members.
Alex Davda is a business psychologist and consultant at Ashridge Executive Education, Hult International Business School, and is based in the Middle East. Email him at business@thenational.ae for advice on any work issues.
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Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
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Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Museum of the Future in numbers
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- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The National's picks
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LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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Four stars
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MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')
Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Manchester City, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match is on BeIN Sports
ARGENTINA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Agustin Marchesin, Esteban Andrada
Defenders: Juan Foyth, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ramiro Funes Mori, Renzo Saravia, Marcos Acuna, Milton Casco
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Roberto Pereyra, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Maria
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Matias Suarez
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
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Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
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Arrogate's winning run
1. Maiden Special Weight, Santa Anita Park, June 5, 2016
2. Allowance Optional Claiming, Santa Anita Park, June 24, 2016
3. Allowance Optional Claiming, Del Mar, August 4, 2016
4. Travers Stakes, Saratoga, August 27, 2016
5. Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita Park, November 5, 2016
6. Pegasus World Cup, Gulfstream Park, January 28, 2017
7. Dubai World Cup, Meydan Racecourse, March 25, 2017
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
