A manager that I know tells me that avoiding relationships is the only way to manage people because you must enforce performance and you cannot be “emotional” about it.
The only successful managers I know are completely and committedly the opposite. These managers tell me that successful supervision includes a rich relationship. You should know all about your staff. You should be able to celebrate successes and bemoan failures with them.
I think part of the reason for distancing oneself is elitism. “I know more than you, I know better than you, there is no reason to listen to you.”
The truth about this kind of communication is never acknowledged. However, if you have ever been treated this way, you know it. It is apparent in the dehumanizing tone of the received lecture.
I have long believed that lack of financial success for people and for companies is this dehumanizing approach to getting things done. The frailty of the relationship leads to a complete lack of loyalty. Lack of loyalty leads to lack of business = lack of profits.
There is more to this equation than just lack of profits. If you practice this idea of elitism, if you practice distancing yourself, then how do you know when it is right to be a human being? How do you then ‘turn off’ this dehumanizing part of yourself and make positive and real relationships? Are you able to? Will you always suffer alone because you know everything and are better than everyone?