Interesting perspective Harold.

In the growing roar of voices around social business/networked working I hear many calls to remove layers of middle managers. I'm a rather independent guy and don't particularly like people telling me what to do. But I've had enough good managers to feel they are very important.

The best managers I've seen help their team members learn more quickly. Good managers pull on facilitative skills and deep experience to help less seasoned or highly specialized colleagues navigate tough situations. A high performing team usually has an excellent leader, though likely one who supports rather than controls her team members.

When it comes to intensive projects, skilled managers can help teams focus, stay on track, maintain accountability to each other and overcome obstacles.

Perhaps its my inclination towards the archetype of the "servant leader" that gives me this perspective, but I think managers, good managers, are just as important as ever and will remain so. I think perhaps is excessive bureaucracy and control that we're seeing diminish, and with it managers whose only jobs are to administer such systems.