So much of what we call management consists of making it difficult for people to work.

The headline is a quote from Peter Drucker.

Hear, hear!

Here’s a list of ten popular ways managers makes it difficult for people to work:

Call rank. You’re in charge – make them do something just because you said so!
Keep “your” people in the dark. Hold information close to the vest. Don’t trust people with vital information. Who knows what they’ll do with it?
Insist on making all the key decisions yourself because you’re afraid that they’ll make a mistake.
Don’t listen to feedback – in fact, discourage it. And if you get it anyway, become defensive, rationalize it, or make sure to retaliate in some way.
Call endless meetings that are poorly facilitated, where nothing real ever gets done.
Insist on the mantra “let’s do more with less” without showing how that’s to be done. There must be a way, so let them figure it out!
Focus on tasks, not on people. Don’t forget, people are actually just “human resources.” Or “headcount.” Or “FTE’s.”
Be unavailable. Stay in your office, and keep the door closed. How are you supposed to get your work done, after all?
Play favorites – and deny you’re doing so. Play one person against another. Competition is good.
Take the credit for good ideas, and assign the blame to others for bad ones.

I’m sure there are many other ways managers make it difficult for people to work. Share them in the comments below.