📌 The "sniper" manager is the one who sees all the mistakes, ignores the successes but considers himself a charismatic and respected leader
There is a managerial subspecies that is particularly widespread in offices around the world: the Sniper Manager.
He stalks the company like a seasoned hunter, eyes trained on the team, ready to pinpoint with surgical precision every little mistake, inaccuracy or out of place detail.
🔍 His superpower? Find problems that no one had noticed and dispense "constructive criticism" in bursts.
🔫 His motto? “I don't criticize, I just give feedback to improve.”
🚨 Its side effect? A team that lives in perpetual “friendly fire” mode.
Spoilers: This leadership style is a disaster.
🎯 The Sniper Manager: Anatomy of a Morale Destroyer
The Sniper Manager does not lead, does not inspire, does not support. He analyzes. He observes. He strikes.
1️⃣ Observation phase 👀
- He arrives at the meeting and remains silent, staring at the team with an ominous look.
- He takes notes on irrelevant details (because he has to criticize something).
- He nods gravely to increase the tension.
2️⃣ Sudden attack 🎯
- Part the “constructive criticism”: “Nice presentation… but the data on slide 7 is out of date.”
- Killer strategy: Always use “but” to undermine any compliment.
3️⃣ The self-coronation 🏆
- He convinces himself that he “helped” the team.
- He leaves satisfied, leaving behind only demotivation.
💀 The underlying problem? The Sniper Manager doesn't build anything.
📌 The human brain is not wired to thrive under constant attack.
People work better when they feel valued, not constantly under scrutiny.
The result?
- 🔴 A team that stops proposing ideas (they'll just get scrapped anyway).
- 🔴 People who work with the handbrake on to avoid criticism.
- 🔴 A toxic corporate climate, where the goal is "not to be criticized," not to do well.
🚀 What to do instead of throwing out random criticism?
📌 If a team needs to improve, it's not enough to tell them where they're going wrong. You have to show them the way.
1️⃣ The "but" is toxic. Replace it with an "and."
❌ “Nice presentation, but the data on slide 7 is out of date.”
✅ “Great presentation, and if we updated the data on slide 7, would it be even stronger?”
2️⃣ Don't say WHAT is wrong, indicate WHAT can be improved
❌ “This report is unclear.”
✅ “How can we make this report clearer?”
3️⃣ Balance your observations: 3 positive things for each improvement suggestion
❌ “This strategy doesn’t work.”
✅ “Excellent setup, strong message, clear design. The only thing that needs tweaking is the target audience.”
4️⃣ Learn to be quiet (every now and then, eh!)
❌ “I should have my say on everything.”
✅ “You don’t need to fix every detail, sometimes the team just needs space.”
🔥 Bonus Content: The Unofficial Sniper Manager Manual
📌 Have you ever had a boss who seemed to have a built-in radar for mistakes, but zero interest in successes?
Well, that means you've met a specimen of Sniper Manager in full compliance.
Here are some of his cult quotes, the ones every team dreads hearing… and that every good leader should avoid like the plague.
❌ Reverse FAQ: Sniper Manager Answers!
🗣️ “What's the point of praising the team when they do a good job?”
🚀 “To put the wrong idea into their heads that they are already doing enough!”
🗣️ “What if someone comes up with a good idea?”
🚀 “If it were really good, I would have thought of it already.”
🗣️ “What if someone comes up with a new idea?”
🚀 “New? No, no, we already tried it in '96 and it was a disaster.”
🗣️ “What if an employee works really hard but makes a mistake?”
🚀 “If he had really tried, he wouldn’t have made mistakes.”
🗣️ “How can I motivate my team?”
🚀 “By pointing out every mistake, they wake up and improve!”
🗣️ “Maybe I should learn to delegate more?”
🚀 "Better not. If you want a job done well, do it yourself and then complain that no one helps you."
🗣️ “If no one on my team takes initiative, what does that mean?”
🚀 “It means you did a great job nipping every attempt in the bud!”
🗣️ “What if the team sees me as a dictator?”
🚀 “Better a respected dictator than an ignored leader!”
📌 If you've heard similar phrases, know that it's not a nightmare... it's just bad leadership disguised as efficiency.
(True leadership is a whole other story. 🚀)
🔥 Conclusion: Stop being a sniper, become a real leader
📌 Let's recap:
- ✅ Constructive criticism is just an excuse to criticize without feeling guilty.
- ✅ The Sniper Manager thinks he's improving the team, but in reality he's demotivating them.
- ✅ Constantly telling others what is NOT right is not building.
- ✅ A true leader uses dialogue, not laser aim, to identify flaws.
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