Management Styles in US Companies
The American business environment is in a state of constant change, both in individual firms and across industries. There are many styles of management within the country, usually reflecting the type of work done within a company. Regulated or government-serving companies tend to be the most conservative, while businesses serving the public tend to be more creative and informal. Because the business environment in the United States is highly competitive across all industries, American companies are constantly seeking more effective methods of management and more efficient practices among their employees to boost productivity, lower costs and reduce attrition. American managers are required to remain aware of trends and new developments in management techniques and adjust their management practices to take advantage of these advances in knowledge. Jobs are continuously created and eliminated, and an employee’s responsibilities may change over time.
Companies and managers in the United States rely heavily on teams to complete tasks and projects and achieve objectives. Team members for a project may be drawn from various departments, and each member of the team possesses important skills that contribute to the group’s success. A team typically includes a combination of experienced senior staff members and junior staff. When the task or project is completed, the members move on to form different teams (and often under different managers).
It is the manager’s job to plan the team’s actions within the broader framework of the company’s or client’s needs, schedule and budget. Once the manager has created a plan, he or she must ensure the team members have everything they need to complete their tasks. Company teams tend to be transitory, so a manager’s group of subordinates is constantly changing, increasing the difficulty of forming strong relationships with those employees. On the other hand, the more employees a manager works with, the better able he or she is to choose the perfect team for later projects.
A manager’s most difficult job in a US company is reporting to three groups: the team, the company executives and the client (if there is one). US managers must find a balance that pleases all three. To overcome these obstacles, a successful manager must be a charismatic leader with a 'can do' attitude and leadership skills as strong as or stronger than their technical expertise in the field. While education is valued, demonstrated ability is much more important.