Have you ever wondered what your colleagues/ employees really think about you? You won’t get it on the 360-degree feedback form that they had to fill out! If they call you a nickname behind your back, it is probably not flattering.
It is not just the unpopularity of senior managers that can be attributed to their nickname, but the culture within the organization. When people explain their frustrations and obstacles in their job to a management consultant who is seen as an independent from the organisation, they often illustrate this by saying “well, you know what they called him don’t ya?”
I’m not talking about abusive or obscene names. I’m referring to a nickname which sums up a manager’s approach to managing. The senior manager in the company was known as Mr Teflon, because no one ever blamed him for any of the failed projects or troubled restructurings. This person would not take responsibility if things did not go as planned. He would blame HR if the restructuring took longer than expected, slowed down by appeals or disputes about redeployments.
This director is known as Frank Sinatra by Finance and HR because he does everything his way. It was frustrating to try to explain to people the importance of following correct procedures, whether it be in relation to budget spending or hiring new staff. Old blue eyes did not ask for advice or take it.
They were “The Professor”, as his co-worker called him. He was unable to make decisions, as he always needed more information. He would ask for more reports, and updated figures. He believed that important decisions should not be rushed. He was not in a hurry.
Some people in the same organization referred to the Easter Division’s senior manager as the Wicked Witch of the East because they found her to be overly critical and difficult. Others, however, praised the male counterparts for their challenging and robust leadership style. This indicated that misogyny was present in certain parts of the organization.
The presence of Mr Teflon and Frank Sinatra as well as The Professor, the Wicked Witch of the East, and The Professor, illustrated unhelpful behavior that was negatively impacting the organisation. The nicknames of these individuals, who held senior positions in the organization and set the tone for the culture and behaviour of the company, revealed a lot about their behavior and their organisational culture.
