Theory X and Theory Y to Pick the Best Management Style

Theory X and Theory Y to Pick the Best Management StyleTheory X and Theory Y to Pick the Best Management StyleIf the last time you thought about finding and using X and Y welches your high school algebra class, you probably havent heard about the Theory X and Theory Y management style. Developed in the 1960s by Douglas McGregor in his book, The Human Side of Enterprise, Theory X and Theory Y allocate the job of management into two styles. And, just like your algebra class, X and Y dont work totally independently, although you can manage in a style that is mostly a Theory X or Theory Y management style. Your management style evolves as you gain cues from your work environment, the type of work you need to accomplish, the locus of control of your workforce (intrinsically driven or externally), the strength and talent of your workforce, and your ultimate beliefs about how people are motivated. The variables explain why in some situations, you will find the Theory X management style more effective. In others, you will find the Theory Y management style necessary to lead people. In yet a third setting, a combination of the two management styles will help you achieve your goals. Here is what you need to know to understand and apply both the Theory X and the Theory Y management styles. Theory X Management Style The underlying idea with Theory X management style is that humans are inherently lazy and will only work if the manager is forcing them to work. Without a manager standing there saying, get back to work, bedrngnishing will happen. This style makes the assumption that humans only work because they have to work, so the motivation to work must come from an external source- the manager. Theory YManagement Style In Theory Y management style, people gain self-worth from doing meaningful work. If the work is fulfilling, the employees will do a good job because its important to them. You can see how these two theories can conflict and yet have a lot of crossove rs. Its possible to have both situations true for a manager, depending on the job and the person. Some people are lazy and some are motivated by the desire to do a good job. The question is, how can you, as a manager or HR manager, use these theories to make your company a better place to work? What Type of Work Do You Do? Some work is boring. It is. Its why it is called work. Many things that make the world go round are boring and tedious. You may think that this type of work calls for you to apply the Theory X management style. The only reason people take these jobs is that they cant find anything better and they would rather do anything other than that work. Therefore, theyll slack off if youre not standing there with a proverbial whip in your hand to get them into shape. Many screaming and frustrated managers agree with this concept. Seriously, how many times do you have to tell your employees to get off their phones and back to work? Change the Value Proposition to Gain Employee Commitment But, stop and think about the value of what youre really doing. If the work didnt have value, people wouldnt hire your business and youd be out of business. So what value does your business bring? Lets say your company provides janitorial services. Cleaning a toilet isnt terribly inspiring. But, if you look at the great public health service you provide, you might develop a different viewpoint with your employees. That type of description sounds like a valuable job. Additionally, if you focus on how doing a good job here can lead to better opportunities in the future, you may be able to change your employees internal motivation. From X to Y. Many white collar jobs seem to fall under Theory Y management style. People want to be engaged, look for jobs that are fulfilling, and work long hours to succeed. Managers can stand back and allow employees to just do their work. Is Theory X Ever the Right Way to Manage? Some managers cant get the Theory X management sty le out of their heads. Thats how you end up with micro-managers who judge employees based on facetime, ersatzdarsteller check everything employees do and control every aspect of the work process. This sounds like a terrible work environment. However, there are employees who need this kind of prodding from their manager. Some people dont do a good job and could care less about the business, the clients, or a job well done. The best outcome for your business is not to hire this type of person in the first place. But recognize that if your pay and prestige are low, you may end up with this type of workers more often than not. If thats the case, you may need to micro-manage the employees to get the work done, even if micromanaging doesnt lead to better employee engagement. When Theory X and Theory Y Run Into Conflict If you have employees who are intrinsically motivated and you treat them like they are slackers who wont work if you take your eyes off them, theyll hate you and quit. If you have employees who are slackers and you treat them like they are self-motivated, youll end up pulling your hair out when nothing gets done. Getting the right match between the managers management style and the need of each employee for supervision is one of the key secrets to business success. Some employees do need micro-managing. Other employees will not stand for a micro-manager. The best solution is to hire the right people all of the time employees who are intrinsically motivated and who you can trust to do the work without supervision. That, however, isnt always easy to do and you may find yourself with a team that needs a lot more managing than youd like to do. You can, however, through hard work, and the re-evaluation of tasks, help teach people to become more independent, but, its not an easy task. If you can succeed though, self-motivated employees are the best for your business. - Suzanne Lucas is a freelance writer who spent 10 years in corporate human resources, where she hired, fired, managed the numbers, and double-checked with the lawyers.