Did the manager give mixed signals to his employees? Why?

Managers need good human relations, or people, skills. They must be able to communicate goals, and they have to understand their employees’ needs so that they can motivate them to perform. Managers must also provide appropriate leadership.

Managers are not always very good at their jobs. Usually, poor management results from poor communication or interpersonal skills. Typical of some employees’ experience is this one, told by David Manning, a college student who worked as a radio announcer for a small station in a college town. The manager-owner of the radio station, Greg Smith, had often told the members of his staff: “I want you to know that my door is always open. Come in anytime if you have a suggestion to make our station the best on the air. Come see me.”

The young announcer took the manager at his word. David noticed that the music staff gave the announcer a list of numbers (such as 88745, 98432, 72341, etc.) of CDs to be pulled from the files and played on a classical music program. The announcer observed that it would take the music staff just a few more seconds to type after each number a notation, such as “Symphony #4 by Beethoven, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Bruno Walter conducting.” Such notations would save David (and other announcers) a lot of time and would make the classical music program sound much better on the air.

David decided to make his suggestion to the manager. He went through the manager’s “open door” and presented his ideas. Greg Smith, the manager, replied: “I don’t want you kids coming in here complaining. If you can’t do the work, then quit. Your nitwit ideas are of no value to my radio station.” The manager went on and on for several minutes. At the conclusion of his tirade, the manager said to David: “My door is always open; come back and see me with an idea anytime!”

Needless to say, David never returned to the manager’s office with any more suggestions.