4 ms·

I was once faced with the prospect of losing my job. The company wasn't in a good place financially and they didn't have any projects for me at that moment. Fa

I was once faced with the prospect of losing my job. The company wasn't in a good place financially and they didn't have any projects for me at that moment. Far worse than the prospect of losing my job was my boss. If there was bad news to be given, he'd just melt into the background and let someone else do it, even though he'd hired me. (It was a rather dysfunctional company in general). That really stuck with me, far more than facing losing my job did. It's hard to be honest and direct about bad news, but it's the only way you should do it. Anything else is putting your own desire to not face fear above the needs of the person who is going to have to deal with the news. That's a really selfish thing to do.

scarface74 8y ago
If there was bad news to be given, he'd just melt into the background and let someone else do it, even though he'd hired me. (It was a rather dysfunctional company in general). At the level I’m at now, I always ask the hiring manager how do they deliver bad news and what is their theory on feedback. I’m usually responsible for major initiatives even if I am 70% a heads down coder. I actually found it refreshing when a senior manager told me straight up that I missed a requirement and that it was a “big f-up”, after dealing with managers that beat around the bush. I’ve got work to do, initiatives to lead, etc. I don’t have time to be reading between the lines. I want a manager who lays it on the line so I can course correct. Working at a small company, major mistakes mean a lot.