How to Coach Yourself and Others Essential Knowledge For Coaching | Page 520

simpler alternative that is easy for them to accept. You can also always
reframe what they said, casting it into a more sensible light.
Because the most important thing in the Seagull Manager's life is the
Seagull Manager, if you can deliver results, then they may well leave you
to your own devices or give moderate support. Deliver regular short
messages that shows you are making good progress. Also work to make
them look good to the rest of the organization (despite temptations to
the contrary!). If they think you are acting contrary to their interests,
they will just fly by more often and poop on you even more!
If you are a manager
If you are a manager, then seagull management is of course something
to avoid. It is a trap that may seem easy but in practice it will alienate
and demotivate your staff. If there are wiser people above you, then
they also will find out what is happening and your advancement will
halt or regress.
The real lesson here is to sustain a good relationship with your people.
Whilst you need not (and should not) be best mates with them, you
should respect them and communicate regularly and with integrity.
Listen too -- this is a key skill and frequent activity of good leaders.
Mushroom management
Description
In a common metaphor, the 'mushroom manager' plants you knee-deep
(or worse) in the smelly stuff and keeps you in the dark.
In practice, this means you get to do all the work that they do not want.
They do not communicate and generally ignore you, so you do not know
their plans or what else might be going on in the organization.
Why it happens
Mushroom managers are often more concerned about their own career
and image. Anyone who appears as a threat may well be deliberately
held back as their ability may make the mushroom manager look bad.

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