Managing Your Boss

Ron Shaich, co-founder of Au Bon Pain, was president of the specialty fast-food chain when this video was made. It was the mid-1980s, and Shaich demanded a lot of his managers as the young company suffered growing pains in a very competitive marketplace. This case study focuses on Shaich's relationships with three of his most important subordinates — two district managers and his director of marketing. Their relationships with Shaich are crucial to their company's performance, and also to their own success. But the program's focus isn't on how Shaich manages his subordinates. The focus is on how these subordinates manage their relationships with the boss. Traditional management theory stressed the importance of managing down. "Managing Your Boss" was revolutionary because it stressed the importance of also "managing up," to help companies improve their productivity and help employees increase their job satisfaction. "Managing Your Boss" defines and develops the three elements that are crucial to building and improving effective employer/employee relationships. Adapted from the article "Managing Your Boss" by John Gabarro and John P. Kotter. 32 Minutes | Color