A PR from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) found that half of the workers surveyed left a job due to bad management, not such a surprising statistic given the lack of understanding of what managers really do. The management guru Henry Mintzberg rails against the over professionalisation of management and abundance of MBAs. I agree with this sentiment, managing is neither a science or a profession, it’s a practice learned through experience and context.

Having said that how do you learn to be a manager? Firstly by recognising that managing isn’t part-time, the pressure is perpetual not temporary and get used to be interrupted a lot! Also recognise to play to your strengths (all managers are flawed) and to bring out the natural energy of your team by letting them play to their strengths.

Managers get things done primarily through their own action, other people and managing information. In managing actions directly, they fight fires, manage projects and negotiate contracts. In managing people, managers build teams & motivate them, create a team culture and get people to do things more effectively. In managing information, managers drive people to take action through budgets, objectives and delegating tasks. Much of a managers information is visceral – seen and felt through action and other people, not through spreadsheets and e-mails.

So rather than throwing in the towel because of a manager, think about how you can help them to become a better manager.

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