This document discusses signs that can identify a "dinosaur manager" - a manager who exhibits outdated management practices. Some signs include a high attrition rate of 20-30% over time, over 50% of new hires leaving within the first two years, micromanagement, unethical practices, blame culture, fear-based management, dividing employees against each other, poor communication, and senior employees avoiding important issues. While research is lacking, being aware of these signs can help new employees navigate working for managers with antiquated styles.

1. First Day At Work Dilemma
How To Spot A Dinosaur Manager
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2. Bosses are humans with
emotions and expectations.A
burst of “managerial
frustration” is expected without
much severe consequences to
the reporting relationship.
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3. Image source credited to http://cdn.instructables.com/FKW/AQAE/GUEN7V4Q/FKWAQAEGUEN7V4Q.LARGE.jpg
Corporate “Dinosaur
Managers ” is observed on
managers with “out-
dated” practices and
behaviour with dire
consequences to their
organization as a whole.

4. Early signs of “managerial
incompetence” cited by
BusinessPATHS (2014) appeared as a
phenomenon of people quitting their
managers and not their job.
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5. A Gallup survey quoted by BusinessPATHS
(2014) found that over a million US
employees polled “A bad boss or supervisor
is the number one reason people leave due
to the environment their boss creates and
how they feel they've been treated”, thus,
debunking the popular belief of a “primary
reason people quit their jobs is because of
pay”.
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6. Spot the troubles ahead
by mindful reading on
various statements and
“direct quotes” that may
be early warning signs of
Dinosaur Managers
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7. Sign 1 to observe:
High attrition rate of 20% to
30% over a continuous
period of HR reporting data.
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8. Sign 2 to observe:
More than 50% new hires leave in
the first to two years.
Image source credited to http://www.bankingawareness.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/higher-attrition.jpg

9. Sign 3 to observe:
Micro-management that
shows lack of trust in
employees’ judgement.
Image source credited to http://www.trainingzone.co.uk/sites/default/files/styles/540x350/public/images/micro_manage.jpg

10. Sign 4 to observe:
Unethical practices
through insinuating
“creativity” on official
issues to redefine “grey
areas”, many of which
are clearly wrong in the
eyes of law and
regulation.
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11. Sign 5 to observe:
Blame culture when the boss drills “ I have told you many times….and you keep on
repeating the same mistake” without understanding the forces of different situations.
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12. Sign 6 to observe:
Classic old school fear-based management of “ Why do you only
bring problems to me, you MUST give me a solution” -even
when the employee hopes for coaching.
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are-back-in-charge.jpg

13. Sign 7 to observe:
Divide to conquer practices by
politically gossiping and
implanting disharmony -even
in the same team.
Image source credited to http://www.ontimesupplies.com/office-supplies-online-blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/how-to-handle-office-politics.
jpg

14. Sign 8 to observe:
Lack or breakdown of communication in the case of frustration
shown in conversational tone and content, as noted when “I
thought I have an official format for this, never mind…” with the
face showing he or she “MINDS” a lot.
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15. Sign 9 to observe:
Senior employees are “tip-
toeing” by skirting issues with
an example in “ I have just
gone through the presentation
deck with the (new hire), and
he is fine with it” to signify a
“sudden handover” of
responsibilities while the new
guy is not aware of the
background to the case.
Image source credited to http://www.generationy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/handover-document-files.jpg

16. An absence of research
lacks support for further
information on Dinosaur
Managers causing a trend
for new hires quitting.
Still, the “sign-posts” can
alert on maneuvering the
mindfield around these
guardians of “ancient”
management practices.
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17. Reference
BusinessPATHS. (2014). People quit their boss, not their job. Retrieved December 16, 2014,
from http://businesspaths.net/Articles/12/people-quit-their-boss-not-their-job