The New Manager

Abstract

We need to think about how we treat other human beings. Our actions and our words combine to reflect our attitude towards other people. The key to effective human relations is a welldeveloped sense of empathy. One should understand that no matter how talented and capable, if you have an abrasive personality, cannot work co-operatively with others, or get the reputation of being a loner, management will regard these traits as liabilities. This case is an illustration of poor interpersonal relations amongst team members and the repercussions. The case deals with a protagonist facing a situation of intense antagonism between two of his team members leading to ineffectiveness in meeting the organisational goals, a bad climate and demotivation for all. The case brings up issues of effective team working, interpersonal skills, leadership, conflict management, and ego issues. The case may be used with students, executives or trainers to provide insights into the following: (1) effective team working; (2) effective problemsolving; (3) managing conflicts in an organisation / team; (4) dealing with ego issues, seniority etc; (5) effective interpersonal skills; (6) managing motivation in teams and establishing a positive climate; (7) dealing with emotions and feelings of resentment; (8) the need for sensitivity in touching situations; and (9) being an effective leader.