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I completely agree (assuming not blocking task). No one is in a better position to represent, empathize, direct, and assist in employees' careers than a manage

by weej 8y ago

I completely agree (assuming not blocking task). No one is in a better position to represent, empathize, direct, and assist in employees' careers than a manager that "gets it". Additionally, studies show that employee satisfaction, trust, and respect for their manager is higher when they feel their boss is capable and can do their job. Steve Jobs said it well: "The best managers, he says, are 'the great individual contributors' who don’t actually want to be managers but step up because they don’t see anyone else who can do the job better." https://qz.com/work/1152331/watch-a-young-steve-jobs-give-advice-on-management-and-leadership-at-apple-aapl/ https://qz.com/work/1152331/watch-a-young-steve-jobs-give-ad...

chris_mc 8y ago
>Steve Jobs said it well Steve Jobs was a class-A asshole who people who are trained in leadership agree was a poor leader of humans, even if he had great success in business. I'm not sure I'd take his leadership musings without a few grains of salt. edit: everyone -> people who are trained in leadership
- enjo 8y ago
  >who everyone agrees was a poor leader of human Everyone agrees? Because I'm not sure I do. Jobs was probably an "asshole" for whatever your definition of that is. To suggest that he wasn't a capable leader of people is a rather different thing. His leadership style was authoritative, petty, and probably even mean. It was also extremely effective. It's a style that was hardly unique to Jobs, and I can point to many other effective leaders (especially in the military) who used a similar style to achieve fantastic results. From Patton to Vince Lombardi the evidence is everywhere. Hell today we see much of the same behavior at SpaceX! I would argue that an authoritative style of leadership, with small doses of intentional praise, can be really effective under certain circumstances. Particularly when the goal is very big, very audacious, and very hard. There are lots of ways to lead people. Which one is most effective depends on many factors.
  - chris_mc 8y ago
    Effectiveness is not "good leadership". He may have been very effective, but he fucked people over, probably gave people PTSD, treated others with disdain, etc. I know some people see the Elon Musks and Steve Jobs' of the world and think they're awesome and effective, but it's a net negative for the organizations they are a part of due to the human cost.
- weej 8y ago
  I never said Steve was a good leader or manager. What I agree with is that the best managers of engineers are DOERS/ENGINEERS themselves. Steve was not an engineer.
- sharadov 8y ago
  Exactly! People repeat what he said like they are "words of wisdom", people committed suicide under his watch. Guy did not pay child-support for his daughter.

by weej 8y ago

chris_mc 8y ago

>Steve Jobs said it well Steve Jobs was a class-A asshole who people who are trained in leadership agree was a poor leader of humans, even if he had great success in business. I'm not sure I'd take his leadership musings without a few grains of salt. edit: everyone -> people who are trained in leadership

enjo 8y ago
>who everyone agrees was a poor leader of human Everyone agrees? Because I'm not sure I do. Jobs was probably an "asshole" for whatever your definition of that is. To suggest that he wasn't a capable leader of people is a rather different thing. His leadership style was authoritative, petty, and probably even mean. It was also extremely effective. It's a style that was hardly unique to Jobs, and I can point to many other effective leaders (especially in the military) who used a similar style to achieve fantastic results. From Patton to Vince Lombardi the evidence is everywhere. Hell today we see much of the same behavior at SpaceX! I would argue that an authoritative style of leadership, with small doses of intentional praise, can be really effective under certain circumstances. Particularly when the goal is very big, very audacious, and very hard. There are lots of ways to lead people. Which one is most effective depends on many factors.
- chris_mc 8y ago
  Effectiveness is not "good leadership". He may have been very effective, but he fucked people over, probably gave people PTSD, treated others with disdain, etc. I know some people see the Elon Musks and Steve Jobs' of the world and think they're awesome and effective, but it's a net negative for the organizations they are a part of due to the human cost.
weej 8y ago
I never said Steve was a good leader or manager. What I agree with is that the best managers of engineers are DOERS/ENGINEERS themselves. Steve was not an engineer.
sharadov 8y ago
Exactly! People repeat what he said like they are "words of wisdom", people committed suicide under his watch. Guy did not pay child-support for his daughter.