Management In A Changing World

CHAPTER 1THE FUNDAMENTALS OF EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT

Management is the art of getting things done with and through other people. The bigger our aspirations, the more we need to work with others to achieve them.

But under many traditional management approaches, people are treated more like machine parts than, well, people. And this is no accident—many modern‐day management practices have roots in U.S. slavery and worker exploitation.¹ They place profit and a narrow definition of productivity above all else—including the well‐being and dignity of employees, the greater good of society, and the health of our planet.

Following the COVID‐19 pandemic and the rise of Black Lives Matter and other movements for justice, we've seen some long‐overdue pushback against this model. More people are reevaluating their priorities. Many are deciding that too much of their time and energy is spent at work.

People are also expecting better from their employers—as they should! Now, more than ever, especially in social justice spaces, people want employers to practice what they preach about equity, sustainability, and justice. Staff and managers alike want to be valued as human beings, not treated like cogs in a machine. We want to do purpose‐driven work—without sacrificing living wages, good benefits, and reasonable hours for the sake of “doing what we love.” We want to build authentic connections with our colleagues. We want managers who believe in us and help us realize our potential.

At The Management ...