Rishad Tobaccowala: Lamentations of the Modern Manager

The Future Does Not Fit in the Containers of the Past. Edition 147.

Worked so hard for this corner office with a view.

This wonderfully awe-inspiring room.

But instead of enjoying my due.

Have the same square footage as everyone else on Zoom.

As a manager we would monitor and check-in.

Now with everyone working anywhere that is in the dust bin.

Worked my way up the ladder as I grew grayer.

But now everybody wants to “de-layer”!

All these young folks are now so entitled.

They refuse to bend their knee to our high title.

Even worse than being in awe of us they boo!

Asking what value, we add and exactly do?

They would rather be their own boss.

And look at the decades we put in as a loss.

A deaf ear to our beliefs that expertise, craft and skill are like fine wine.

Which get honed and grow working with people over time.

Things were clear cut and everything in its place.

Now everything is fluid, as if we are drifting in space.

Everything is leaking into everything and exploding everywhere.

Commerce and media, offline and online, and only attention is rare.

Just when one came to grips with all this digital stuff.

Our knowledge of Web3 and AI we need to shine and buff.

All the information and data on pay and other secrets only we knew.

Now on Fishbowl, Glassdoor and LinkedIn are freely shared in full view.

We need to balance a world of hybrid and remote.

Cannot be a boss but a coach and on talent dote.

Align with DEI and ESG while being sensitive to taking a political side.

Should we fail to deliver the market will have our hide.

Managing used to be quite a sweet gig.

Delegated work as paychecks grew big.

But now to remain relevant we must constantly learn.

And many old tricks and processes we need to burn.

Boards announce big audacious goals.

Press releases sparkle with promises and roar.

But it is us who need to be great at our roles.

Otherwise, the stock will droop, and we will be out the door.

Now the challenges come from far and near.

One wrong move and there goes all the sales of beer.

How does one navigate and steer?

When there is so much that we must fear?

We must improvise and be agile.

Constantly adjust to a world that is volatile.

Yet our deliverables increase and thicken.

While deadlines and timetables we are given grow short and quicken.

We are the glue that connects the firm.

So why is everyone making us squirm?

They take us for granted and rare is the pay hike.

Maybe we should go on strike?

But if we do, will they go all Elon Musk?

Mow down everything leaving just husk?

Or will they transfer funds to Open AI?

Use GPT and Dall-e and wish us goodbye?

These questions linger and add to our stress.

Even though it is us who they need to clean their mess.

We need to stay stoic, brave and maintain a stiff upper lip.

And to continue to bravely captain the ship!

(And if you find yourself stressed and singing a lament how can you thrive and be happy? Listen to a recent McKinsey Partner for actionable tips to replace laments with laughter and more…)