[ozozozd]

What does “tough but fair” mean?

If you’re fair, what function does being tough serve? Or does being fair allow tolerating the shortcoming that’s being tough?

An employee being tough - resilient, emotionally strong - sounds like a good idea. But manager being tough to reports? I fail to see the function/value.

[ChrisMarshallNY]

They had high expectations (I suspect many here, would consider them “extreme”), and demanded that we take a great deal of accountability and responsibility. Not really big on micromanaging, but we were expected to deliver, with no excuses for failure.

If I showed that I could deliver, they would basically give me a “blank check,” for support, but I was expected to take this high level of trust seriously, and not abuse it. They wouldn’t second-guess my decisions.

They would assume that I knew what I was doing; which could be pretty scary, but I was also expected to ask for help, if I found myself over my head. They might be grumpy, but they’d give me the help. I did risk having the responsibility yanked, though.

Copping to my mistakes was expected. I was also expected to do so, in spite of possible dire consequences. If they found out about it after the fact, or if I tried to cover it up, things would go badly.

Throwing co-workers or employees under the bus was very bad. It pretty much destroyed your rep. Weasels did not do well.

High expectations, high trust, big support, a ton of agency, and really high standards on deliverables and transparency.

From what I read here, a lot of folks would have difficulty in that environment. I liked it, but it could be stressful.

[ozozozd]

Thanks for explaining.

> High expectations, high trust, big support, a ton of agency, and really high standards on deliverables and transparency.

This sounds like a utopia to me to be honest. I am not sure if I agree with your assessment about how many here would not be able to handle it. My concern is many here won’t be able to offer it. I would love this type of management.

[ChrisMarshallNY]

It was Japanese management.

I loved the agency, but they could be brutal. I used to watch Japanese managers bring subordinates to tears.

They were gentler to me, but not that much gentler. I had the "privilege" of being in the "inner circle" of trust.

[ozozozd]

Ah - agency and responsibility but without the western style boundaries.

I suppose there has to be a sacrifice.