As the song so memorably says: “I love rock n’ roll.”
I also love managing staff. And I really love helping managers become rock star managers.
Rock star managers (RSMs) inspire the same kind of passion and devotion in their fans (their staff) as do their musical counterparts. They have fans, and their fans will follow them just about anywhere to worship, I mean work with, them.
BUT! There’s the type of rock star manager you want to be – and the one you don’t.
The Admirable Rock Star Manager
The Doors: This RSM respects their key players so much that they show them the doors to further career advancement – even if it means losing them to a new opportunity.
The Carpenters: RSMs with Carpenter-like characteristics build their staff up, rather than breaking them down. The way they behave when mistakes happen empowers their staff, shows confidence in them, and as such mistakes rarely repeat. This RSM always has the right managerial tool in their belt and at their disposal.
Destiny’s Child: The RSM who can inspire such a love for work in their staff that they feel as though it’s their destiny to be there. They get up happy to go to work each day feeling as though they’re making a difference.
The Beatles: The RSM who gets their operation rocking along to a consistent beat and groove. There’s a synergy and things just flow.
The Avoidable Rock Star Manager
Dire Straits: Everything’s always at panic stations, the company’s always losing money and this RSM always lets every staff member know it.
Blind Melon: Ah yes, the RSM who sees nothing, no problems, no solutions, no need for change of any kind.
Milli Vanilli: The RSM who has no idea what’s going on and is faking it until they make it. Their lip syncing faux-management is obvious to everyone except the person who put them in the job (at least for now).
Crowded House: The RSM who believes more bums on seats is the only way to go. Their staff are sitting on top of one another and there’s no time to manage anyone properly.
Guns & Roses: The unpredictable RSM. One minute they’re crazy angry with you (guns) and the next it’s all lovey dovey (roses).
Tears for Fears: The RMS who is unprepared to be a manager and is emotionally unstable.
Counting Crows: The nitpicking manager who will count and ration every paperclip used and who micro-manages their staff to death!
Rock on rock star!
Kirsty Dunphey is the youngest ever Australian Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year, author of two books (her latest release is Retired at 27, If I can do it anyone can) and a passionate entrepreneur who started at age 15 and opened her own real estate agency at 21. Currently Kirsty heads up www.reallysold.com the premium online copywriting site for real estate agents and is a co-director of Elephant Property www.elephantproperty.com.au Launceston, Tasmania’s only boutique real estate agency purely for investment property owners. Kirsty’s other ventures are outlined at her website www.kirstydunphey.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
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