---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many managers feel, somewhat cynically…"
description: "\"Many managers feel, somewhat cynically, that people are being paid to do their jobs and that's that. This attitude reflects an insensitivity to people ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/phil-crosby-16889_attitude_many-managers-feel-somewhat-cynically-th_1377105.jpg"
---

#  Many managers feel, somewhat cynically, that people are…

![“Many managers feel, somewhat cynically, that people are being paid to do their jobs and that's that. This attitude reflects an insensitivity to people that is a trademark of many hockey-style managers.” quote by Phil Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/phil-crosby-16889_attitude_many-managers-feel-somewhat-cynically-th_1377105.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/phil-crosby-16889_attitude_many-managers-feel-somewhat-cynically-th_1377105.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/phil-crosby-16889_attitude_many-managers-feel-somewhat-cynically-th_1377105.jpg)

> “Many managers feel, somewhat cynically, that people are being paid to do their jobs and that's that. This attitude reflects an insensitivity to people that is a trademark of many hockey-style managers.”

[Phil Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-crosby/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Some managers view employees as merely paid labor, showing a lack of empathy and a rigid, authoritarian style.

**In simple terms:** Managers can be uncaring and controlling.

Key Takeaway

Treat staff with respect and empathy.

Themes

leadership empathy management

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

analytical motivational

When to use this quote

- team meetings
- performance reviews
- conflict resolution
- policy making

Key Concepts

human resources organizational culture

Questions to Reflect On

- How does empathy improve team performance?
- What steps can change a managerial style?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on control can stifle innovation.

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[Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Hockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hockey/) [Insensitivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insensitivity/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/)

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> [Many of us marvel at the icy insensitivity with which women snuff out their armours. But if they did not blot out the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/many-of-us-marvel-at-the-icy-insensitivity-with-which-women-snuff-out/)

[Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/)

> [“You’re too sensitive’ victims of sexual abuse are told over and over by those whose reality depends on being insensitive. Most adults who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fredrickson/you-re-too-sensitive-victims-of-sexual-abuse-are-told-over-and-over/)

Renee Fredrickson

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Renford Reese

> [The dark ghettos are social, political, educational and-above all-economic colonies. Their inhabitants are subject peoples, victims of the greed, cruelty, insensitivity, guilt, and fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/the-dark-ghettos-are-social-political-educational-and-above-all/)

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## More by Phil Crosby

> [You don't have to be noisy to be effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-crosby/you-don-t-have-to-be-noisy-to-be-effective/)

[Phil Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-crosby/)

> [We must define quality as conformance to specifications if we are to manage it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-crosby/we-must-define-quality-as-conformance-to-specifications-if-we-are-to/)

[Phil Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-crosby/)

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[Phil Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-crosby/)

> [Slowness to change usually means fear of the new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-crosby/slowness-to-change-usually-means-fear-of-the-new/)

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> [Successful people breed success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-crosby/successful-people-breed-success/)

[Phil Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-crosby/)

> [Being convinced one knows the whole story is the surest way to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-crosby/being-convinced-one-knows-the-whole-story-is-the-surest-way-to-fail/)

[Phil Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-crosby/)

> [Change should be a friend. It should happen by plan, not by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-crosby/change-should-be-a-friend-it-should-happen-by-plan-not-by-accident/)

[Phil Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-crosby/)

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