What Traffic Cops Can Teach Us About Management

Reader Comments
Back to blog

Managers should not have to rule. If employees ran with their projects to high standards, the manager should be more or less a work clearinghouse.
When you drive on the road, observe the limits not because the police may catch you, but because these are the analyzed safe speeds for the setting of the road. Do the right on your own. Own your actions and behaviors.
I enjoyed reading the entire article and several of the comments. There are no perfect managers or employees; being a manager having to run a department really stinks when I have to manage personnel personal problems too. Theoretically, we are all adults.
Ron of FL

Ron P of OH 9:25AM April 01, 2009

The first unmarmarked car was an imposter - like many bosses who think they know what they're doing, but their decisions suck and only creates emnity among those who are picked on - because they can - a typical tyrant manager. The second was an enforcer whose power role was to punish - creating paranoia and putting the brakes on people's lives and productivity... because they can - a typical Type X manager. The third set by example what is acceptable behavior and people followed as productivity was smooth. These are the rarest Type Y manager who people learn to respect, trust, and will continue to do the positively enforced behavior even when the boss is away. Contrast this to cops who never use their directional signals, run red lights because they can by turning on their emergency lights, drive on the shoulder of roads and freeways because they don't like being stuck in traffic with all of us law abiding citizens, and speeding way past the speed limit without cause - just because they can. But then, I'd rather see the cops in front of me instead of in my rear view mirror.

Tony Lee of CA 3:03PM March 27, 2009

Well to goal is to encourage people to obey the speed limit even when the police are not around. The most effective way to do this is to make them think police are watching even when they are not, so the first example is probably the most effective. If police enforced speed by not issuing tickets, no one would slow down when they do see a cop; still, example one is the most effective for traffic enforcement.

Mike of FL 12:06PM March 27, 2009

Assign most real police officers to solving real crime. Hire some guys to drive cars at the speed limit in all lanes---blocking the would-be speeders.
Assign most real managers to monitoring the real business issues of the company. Fire any managers who impede a fully encouraged work force. In other words, fire every "manager" who thinks it his duty to sneak around and "catch" people in minor infractions.
Yeah, I'm in the "snit" you mentioned. But not at you, Suzanne. You have raised a thoughtful point.

Muser of NM 11:13AM March 26, 2009