Are You a Helicopter Boss?
Kelley Chisholm
Good managers do not hover over their employees. They involve their people in the decision-making process by teaching them how to make good decisions for the organization.
Have you ever worked for someone who controlled everything you did, day in and day out, telling you what to do, how to do it and when to do it? This boss was constantly checking in, making suggestions and hovering above, even though you did not ask for nor need any help or support. These micromanagers can be referred to as “helicopter bosses,” a term coined from its counterpart phrase “helicopter parents.”
According to Wikipedia, “Helicopter parent is a colloquial, early 21st-century term for a parent who pays extremely close attention to his or her child's or children's experiences and problems.” Helicopter parents often have very good intentions, but they have to control every aspect of their children’s lives to prevent them from failing. These parents hover over their kids, planning and monitoring their every move, without letting them figure out solutions to their problems on their own. Helicopter bosses treat their employees like these parents treat their children. These managers hover over their employees and make all of the decisions. Employees are not allowed to take risks or solve problems on their own. What this accomplishes is that employees are prevented from learning, developing and growing.
Read on to learn how helicoptor bosses impact their employees.
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