"The Great and Powerful Oz has spoken!"
Ever have a boss like this? Proclaiming his wisdom from on high...commanding others to do his bidding through intimidation...belittling his subordinates for merely speaking up. I've known quite a few of these so-called management types: lots of huffing and puffing, all smoke and mirrors, but in the end, very little substance. Is this what management should be about?
I don't manage like this, and neither do most good managers. In the end, good managers are less wizard-like and much more like Dorothy in their approach: they develop a strong vision (getting home/getting to Oz), they encourage their staff to believe in themselves even when they are uncertain about their own skills or abilities (Dorothy lets the Scarecrow make many decisions for the group--not bad for someone with 'no brain'!) They always motivate, communicate, and advocate for their people. And of course they solve their own daily problems... how shall I say this, creatively...Think about the ways Dorothy becomes the real "great and powerful" manager in this film. Many of the principles she adheres to will prove to be valuable tools for future managers like yourselves as well. We'll be discussing more about management styles as the semester progresses...
