Theory X and Theory Y Managers

March 27, 2019

There is a famous quote from Narayanamurthy, Chairman of Infosys, that says, “Love your job, but never fall in love with your company because you never know when the company stops loving you”

How relevant is this quote today? Let us analyse. When we say we love the job we do, it is not just about the actual work we do but also the people we work with. Of all the people who you work with, the most to influence / shape your career is your Manager.

There are typically 2 types of Managers , Theory X managers & Theory Y Managers  according to Douglas Mc Gregor, one of the founding fathers of Management Theory.

Theory X managers are control freaks. They do not trust their team and believe that humans are inherently lazy and will only work if the manager micro manages their tasks. This style of management believes that motivation must come from an external source and even for a small failure expose the entire team and shift the blame to the team. They believe in a strict hierarchy and power lines are clearly drawn.

Theory Y managers are much more “Participative” in their outlook. They trust their team and have a strong belief that if they were motivated enough with incentives and appreciations then it would show great results. They communicate openly and break the hierarchy between superiors and subordinates.

So which type of Manager are you? On the other hand, which type of Manager you have?

In a normal world, there would be a mix of these Management styles depending on the previous experience and scenario.

So you might love coding but your Manager is Theory X. Then what do you do? Research shows that either find an alternate team or quit the company. If you start loving a company and not your job (including team/manager) there ends the growth curve. Never compromise for a Bad Manager!

Enjoy a short clip about the two different types of managers here!

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