Do Managers Really Care to Know?

A friend of mine posted on Facebook that she had a bad experience with a manager. Here is the story: She told her kids to sit down on the bench sitting out in front of a store. One of the kids fell as a part of the bench was broken. Luckily the child was not hurt. My friend went to tell the store manager about the bench. Not so she can get anything from it but because the bench was broken. With furthere weight applied as people sit someone could eventually get hurt. The manager was real nonchalant about it as if the broken bench was so big deal.

The manager asked an employee if they knew if the bench was broken. That employee said that they knew the bench had been broken for months and told the manager about it prior. The manager got upset as if this didn't occur, especially since to conversation was happening in front of my friend and other customers. The manager and employee continued to argue of this. At no time did the manager say that he would file a report so my friend asked for the corporate number to make a complaint. The manager said that he didn't have to give that number and said if no one was hurt why should they be notified? This further upset my friend who collected her kids and walked out of the store.

What is your opinion of the manager and how should he have handled this situation? Do managers truly care about situations like this or are they only looking out for their best interest preventing themselves from getting in trouble due to their negligence?

Managerial Ability: Is it Taught or a Natural Skill?

When I think about the different types of managers I had in the past, several were great, others not so great. I always wondered is it because the great ones where taught to be so or just created that way naturally? How much of our personality is infused in our managerial style? Or are managers just going through the bag of skills they where given in college or resort to techniques taught to them by other managers?

Some managers are great with their employees. They motivate, provide guidance, assist in individual growth, empower, allow for times of autonomy, care for your well-being, and sprinkle in humor in daily interactions. Other managers could care less about you, your growth, your needs and only want the bottom line achieved. The former are democractic managers with the latter being autocratic.

Me personally? I want and value democratic leaders and always hope with every new job opportunity that this is the type of manager that I have. I want the win-win situation where me and my manager have a relationship where we both benefit from the presence/existence of the other.

Any thoughts?