Polyphasic management
Dwayne came up with this ridiculous, but funny, idea of polyphasic management: (be sure to go read the rest of his post--pretty funny)
3-4 hour blocks of micromanagement interrupted by short periods of inattention. This is in contrast to many traditional (monophasic?) management styles which utilize 3-4 hour blocks of inattention, interrupted by short periods of micromanagement.
Really, though, I feel like a polyphasic manager most of the time. Not like Dwayne's definition, but more like I give attention to people for short while, then process for a short while, then empty space for a short while, then back to people. Always cycling through various foci of attention. I guess this can be useful, but it often seems counterproductive to me. I often feel like I'm rushing through a particular something-or-other so that I can begin on the next something-or-other. Seems like the dark side of polyphasic management. I guess the good side would be more strategic and less like fire-fighting. (which isn't to disparage actual fire fighters, who are probably quite strategic in their approach. At least I hope so). Interesting to consider...
