新编剑桥商务英语(高级)第三版7.1.doc

Managerial qualities What does this quotation mean? ‘A bad manager confuses activity with performance.’ Anon Read this story that was widely circulated on the Internet a few years ago. What does it say about managers that made it so popular? A man in a hot air balloon realised he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted, ‘Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago but I don’t know where I am.’ The woman below replied, ‘You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude.’ ‘You must be an engineer,’ said the balloonist. ‘I am,’ replied the woman. ‘How did you know?’ ‘Well,’ answered the balloonist, ‘everything you told me is technically correct, but I still have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you haven’t been much help so far.’ The woman below responded, ‘You must be in management.’ ‘I am,’ replied the balloonist, ‘but how did you know?’ ‘Well,’ side the woman, ‘you don’t know where you are or where you are going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise, Which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, But now, somehow, it’s my fault.’ Number the six most important (1-6) qualities for a manager to possess. A good manager is someone who can… A delegate responsibility ______ B plan effectively ______ C motivate their staff to perform ______ D handle people sensitively ______ E organise work efficiently ______ F recognise and reward good performance ______ G take tough decisions