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Being a manager is not easy because it usually involves both tasks and people. The latter are considered the greater challenge for managers because too often organizations view employees in much the same way as material resources—a commodity. Managing people is not a talent many inherit, nor is it learned overnight. While experience may be the best teacher, the most effective and dynamic managers are those who can switch their mindset with the same facility as switching gears.
Managers confront challenges daily that force them to focus on goals and how to achieve them. No two challenges are alike, so managers must be able to adapt to various approaches. J. Gosling and H. Mintzberg have identified five different mindsets that managers must use if they want to manage employees and teams effectively:
- Reflective
- Analytic
- Collaborative
- Active
- Contextual.