Meet Mr. Cordial
He is more interested in being liked, than in having to use power to get the job done. He measures himself constantly on the likability indicator. His preferred style of executing  is based on the premise that when people like him, they will be more motivated to do the job.

The heaviest burden in his mind while making a decision is – what would make his staff happy? His consideration often clouds his decision making process. Policies and procedures are subordinate to the decisions that please his people.

If you ever work for  Mr. Cordial, remember the following:

• He will eventually lose his status to the power play of those managers who have the powers and who know how to use them effectively.
• Under his feckless management style, you will not get the exposure needed to build your career.
• He can do very little to help you professionally.

Meet Mr. High-and-Mighty
Mr. Mighty is comfortably numb regardless of whether you love him or hate him. He mainly seeks power for himself and nobody else. However, he gives a facade of managing in a democratic style. He is highly task oriented and is successful in getting the job done. He is obsessed with rolling up more power. He is a turf builder and thinks little about the staff development. He is not an institution builder because his focus is on building his own powers. The biggest irony is that the people working for him do not realize these not-so-obvious facts. His staff adores him because he makes them feel strong. Therefore, they are loyal to him. When Mr. Mighty leaves the company for greener pastures, or for more powerful positions, the subordinates feel incapacitated and powerless. It is so because, inadvertently, their loyalties are with the boss, not with the organization. Look out for such managers and start evaluating their managerial style.

If you ever work for  Mr. Mighty, remember the following:

• Build and maintain your own wide network of contacts within the company. Doing so will increase your effectiveness.
• Develop a personal reputation for high integrity and standards.
• Your reputation is your survival kit.
• Focus your energies on developing positive personal powers.

Meet Mr. Peak Performer
His need to see performance is primary. He spreads his power in the service of the company and not in the service of personal goals. He has strong work ethics. He is willing to sacrifice self-interest for the welfare of the company. He graciously rewards individuals who work hard towards achieving goals. He is mature, eager to reward performance and not self-centered . If you like to work hard, he is the best manager to work for.

Time to Reflect: What kind of manager are you dealing with…?