The delicate balance of soft and hard management

Commentary by Lasse Krogell:

Some time ago I read an article written by Mårten Mickos, a Finnish executive living today in Silicon Valley. The article inspired me to write today’s post.

Often people think that there are managers that act very tough and hard, and others that are soft. Depending on the situation on the market and for the business, different kinds of management styles are needed. But can an optimal combination be found in one person?

Mickos writes that the most successful managers are strongly goal oriented, purposeful but fair. Everything culminates in a common and by all understood and accepted value base of the enterprise. When the company has a clear vision and well-defined intermediate goals to reach the vision, the base is strong for a successful future. In such a situation the manager can be at the same time both hard and soft.

In the everyday work the management is fair to everyone. Actually, this is not soft management, but it is felt so. But on the other hand, a certain level of performance is required. In a fair atmosphere where everyone knows the goals to be reached, low performance is not accepted. If someone has difficulties in achieving the goals, actions must be taken immediately. Inform the person of the situation, give help and advice and let him show that the goals can be reached. If not, then move the person to other tasks or… The faster the actions are taken, the better the business is developing. Such actions have to be taken in a fair atmosphere, and everyone must understand that actions are taken to secure the successful business development.

It is also extremely important to maintain the fair feeling to secure that the key persons in the business feel comfortable, otherwise they can leave the company. When there is a feeling of fairness in the company the goals can be demanding, which is a must for the business to succeed in the competitive business.

It is a tough balance to act between hard and soft management. Here communication is the key. The personnel have to understand why sometimes hard actions have to be taken. When the visions and values are understood and accepted by everyone the feeling of fairness is maintained.

The biggest fault that a manger can make is to behave indifferently. Mickos writes that the opposite to softness towards people is indifferency, and the opposite to hardness towards the business is also indifferency. The best managers love both the people and the business. You just have to remember that soft doesn’t mean indifferency and hard doesn’t mean cruelness.

Good luck to a successful business year

Lasse Krogell