The Country of Managers with no Management _{ the Egyptian Explained}
Do You Work Well in a Team?
This is one of the most common questions in HR interviews. Usually, the answer is an immediate “yes” in order to get the job.
However, I want to tackle teamwork culture and mentality from two perspectives: leadership and workers, specifically in the Egyptian context. (Disclaimer: Similar perspectives may apply to other countries or cultures, but my reflections come from my own experience in Egyptian workplaces. I am not familiar with other contexts.)
The Obsession with Being a Manager
I am aware that most people want to be in charge of something, to be seen as managers, or to have a leadership title. In Egypt, it feels like the majority are managers, while actual workers are few — whether officially or unofficially.
Everyone wants to be viewed as the one leading everything. LinkedIn is full of self-declared leaders, managers, and CEOs. This generation seems to have produced the most “CEOs.”
This is not to say that Gen Z is incapable of starting businesses. Rather, it reflects the simple fact that anyone can now be a CEO without qualifications, experience, or knowledge. It has become impressive merely to hold the title.
Unofficial Leadership Roles
Beyond official titles, there is another side: unofficial managerial outlooks.
Take, for example, the common Egyptian experience of parking attendants. Even if you don’t need their help, and even if you never asked, someone will “assist” you in parking — then expect payment. This has become an unofficial social contract, where refusal could mean risking your car’s safety.
Similarly, in unstructured companies, managers often lack the ability to manage tasks or people. In their absence, you might encounter others who assume leadership, acting as though they have authority simply because the official manager isn’t present.
The result? Multiple “managers” emerge, often with no one doing actual work. After all, who wants to do the real tasks when they can just take credit?
Teamwork in Question
This leads to a bigger issue: the deficiency of teamwork skills. But the problem should be examined through two questions:
Is there actual work assigned for the team?
Is there a manager or leader who assigns and monitors tasks?
Without structure, it is impossible to measure teamwork — because there is no real team.
A Country of Managers
I like to say Egypt is the country of 100 million managers with no managerial experience. Perhaps, there is a public historical inclination towards management and leadership as those were of high prestigious social ranks such as the “Basha”. There is a lack of the social emergence of the importance of team and team members to the team. Also, there should be a focus on team privileges on that attainable personal gains.
There is a real deficit in managerial expertise. Those who do hold management positions often lack the training or accountability systems needed to succeed.
This hype around being a manager stems from one perception: being a manager means avoiding accountability while still appearing as the one in charge. You get visibility, authority, and recognition — without the responsibility. And honestly, who wouldn’t want that?
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