The Last Minute Manager

By Terry Eade

This book presents a series of windows (or mirrors) through which we can observe those defensive and often annoying traits that form the cornerstone of contemporary bureaucracy. Thus, what initially appears to be an instruction manual for a management style, which virtually everyone will recognize as undesirable, is really the exposure of techniques, which detract from our effectiveness as managers.

Focusing on these techniques should help us to spot similarities to our own style, provide us with insight into our own behavior, and help us to recognize methods, which we may be developing by default. The simple observations from Parkinson’s Law, Murphy’s Law and The Peter Principle have had a very significant impact in improving our understanding of management and human nature, using the same approach.

To accomplish this objective, the approach was to make the book entertaining enough to be read, simple enough to be understood, and relevant enough to be remembered. Thus, just as the brewers of light beer have attempted to create a product which is full bodied and at the same time less filling, this book will attempt to be light, smooth, and satisfying. It is also hoped that this approach will make the medicine easier to swallow, especially for those who need heavy doses.

There has also been an attempt to keep the material brief and concise, since those toward whom the book is aimed have the least time to waste. Toward this end, each technique has been compressed into a short narrative so that the reader does not have to sift through a large volume of material to extract and summarize the major points.

It is hoped that this approach will also contribute to the readability of the book, and avoid the peril of those books that are so long and complex that they don’t get finished. Moreover, the intent has been to make The Last Minute Manager valuable, enjoyable, and user friendly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Terry Eade
• Release date: Mar 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311137784

Terry Eade

Dr. Eade has a BA in economics from Central Washington University, an MBA in business administration from the University of Utah, and a PhD in higher education econometrics from the University of Washington. His professional career has included being an Air Force Squadron Commander, a Chief Fiscal Officer, a college Vice President, and the Commandant of a leadership academy. He has taught college classes in both management and finance. As a management consultant he trained managers and was a keynote speaker at various conventions. Dr. Eade is also an experienced poker player, a snowbird, a golfer, a motorcycle rider, and an author.

Book preview

The Last Minute Manager

Terry Eade

Copyright 2014 Terry Eade

Smashwords Edition

ISBN 9781311137784

Preface

This book presents a series of windows (or mirrors) through which we can observe those defensive and often annoying traits that form the cornerstone of contemporary bureaucracy. Thus, what initially appears to be an instruction manual for a management style, which virtually everyone will recognize as undesirable, is really the exposure of techniques which detract from our effectiveness as managers.

Focusing on these techniques should help us to spot similarities to our own style, provide us with insight into our own behavior, and help us to recognize methods, which we may be developing by default. The simple observations from Parkinson’s Law, Murphy’s Law and The Peter Principle have had a very significant impact in improving our understanding of management and human nature, using the same approach.

To accomplish this objective, the approach was to make the book entertaining enough to be read, simple enough to be understood, and relevant enough to be remembered. Thus, just as the brewers of light beer have attempted to create a product which is full bodied and at the same time less filling, this book will attempt to be light, smooth, and satisfying. It is also hoped that this approach will make the medicine easier to swallow, especially for those who need heavy doses.

There has also been an attempt to keep the material brief and concise, since those toward whom the book is aimed have the least time to waste. Toward this end, each technique has been compressed into a short narrative so the reader does not have to sift through a large volume of material to extract and summarize the major points.

It is hoped that this approach will also contribute to the readability of the book, and avoid the peril of those books which are so long and complex that they don’t get finished. Moreover, the intent has been to make The Last Minute Manager valuable, enjoyable, and user friendly.

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to all those managers who are effective problem solvers, considerate supervisors, conscientious workers, and effective leaders. These are the leaders and managers who walk the walk and talk the talk. As a result they are respected by those above them, along side of them, and especially those who report to them. These folks can hold their head up high and be proud of their accomplishments and the accomplishments of those who they have trained, developed and led.

They are consistently able to bring about the desired results quickly, efficiently, and economically without losing the morale or enthusiasm of their team. In fact, they are consistently able to get the most out of all members of their team while building dedication and esprit de corps. They are willing to take risks and to persevere until they find ways around the obstacles they encounter along the way. They can be counted on to get the job done and are courageous enough to cut through the red tape and stomp out needless bureaucracy in order to improve the process. In other words, all of the excellent managers who are neither Last Minute Managers nor utilize the Last Minute Management techniques enumerated in this book.

It has been a pleasure to work for, with, and above such professionals in both my military and civilian management positions. Hopefully I have been able to foster these positive traits and objectives in those students who attended my college classes and my management training seminars.

I am also pleased that the next generation of managers such as Clifton Eade, Theresa Hulihan, and Cory Paul exemplify the effective leadership and management skills needed in the future. These three professionals have exhibited the positive traits noted above in their retail, educational, and high tech management fields respectively.

Introduction

So you’ve decided to become a manager. Or perhaps you are already a manager and have decided to update your management skills. In either case you have several choices as to the type of manager you want to be. You can be a theory X manager, a theory Y manager, or even a theory Z manager. You can manage by exception, by objectives, or just by walking around. In fact, if you really want to be efficient about it, you can be a One Minute Manager.

While all of the management styles and approaches indicated above have had some degree of success and popularity, none of them have either the following or the stability of Last Minute Management. Perhaps it is because up until now this classic style hasn’t had a catchy designation or written set of guidelines, or hasn’t received the attention that has been devoted to management modes of much lesser stature.

The purpose of this book is, therefore, to present the secrets of Last Minute Management in written form so you can consider it along with some of the more flashy but less traditional management styles. While none of the concepts addressed in this book are new, the recognition of them collectively as a management style is unique.

In the pages which follow we will explore the skills of the Last Minute Manager. While each of these techniques are capable of being used effectively in an independent manner, when combined they become an almost impenetrable defense for the Last Minute Manager. Thus, the mastery of these principles is an almost sure way to survive and in the right environment, perhaps even prosper. Its durability to withstand the onslaught of progress has made Last Minute Management what it is today, the world’s oldest management style and the foundation of modern bureaucracy.

The History of Last Minute Management

As intimated in the Introduction to this book, Last Minute Management is not something which suddenly sprang up out of nowhere. It has evolved from the very first vestiges of life and has continued to evolve becoming more sophisticated and pervasive with each succeeding period.

As you might have noticed from the graphic at the beginning of this chapter, the guards have their shields over their backsides rather than in front. There are two reasons for this posture. First, like all Last Minute Managers throughout history, their first concern is to CYA (Cover Your Ass). Second, if there would be any confrontation involved, the Last Minute Manager would not be facing this threat head-on, but would be retreating and only need protection from the rear. You will also note the coat of arms on the shields indicates that they are as cunning as a fox and as lazy as a sloth with a line of Zs representing their proclivity to sleep.

One of the most impressive techniques developed by Last Minute Managers through the ages has been their ability to sleep while standing or sitting up. In the case of the guards depicted in the graphic, they could just drop their face shields and get some winks. However, most Last Minute Managers can also sleep with their eyes wide open. Those who have marveled at those modern day palace guards who remain motionless and fixed eyed even in the face of taunting tourists are really just observing Last Minute Managers who will remain asleep while standing at attention until their replacement arrives.

So before we get into the the techniques of Last Minute Management we need to take a look at the rich history of this highly effective management style and some of the contributions which have been made by those Last Minute Managers who have come before us in this great chronology of indolence. Listed in the sections of this chapter are the