3 ms·

I don't mind if my boss can't do my job. I mind if my boss can't do my job AND tells me how I should do it. The major difference there is one is support and tr

I don't mind if my boss can't do my job. I mind if my boss can't do my job AND tells me how I should do it. The major difference there is one is support and tracking, the other is just incompetent in all areas if management.

commandlinefan 6y ago
I don't know - in my experience as a programmer, when I work for somebody that's never worked as a programmer, they tend to estimate based on how long they wish something would take (which is usually an hour, two max). Ex-programmers turned managers who still code from time to time are far more realistic about how long something might take to complete.
- MattGaiser 6y ago
  And about how much small differences in assumptions and what was written in the ticket can impact development times.
- bluefirebrand 6y ago
  My experience with the > Ex-programmers turned managers who still code from time to time are far more realistic about how long something might take to complete. Is that they had huge egos and thought they could do everything in much less time than I could, or would just "put in the time to make sure it was done when it had to be" So nah, I prefer not having ex programmers as my manager.
  - MeinBlutIstBlau 6y ago
    I have my supervisor and my lead I work under. My lead fortunately is very good and understanding of these things, but he also is kind of like that as well. My supervisor has absolutely no clue and just wants updates; thats all.
HenryBemis 6y ago
What if.. your boss doesn't know how to do your job, BUT he knows the requirements around it? E.g. I am an amateur coder. Anyone who has typed 3 pages of code without looking up on a book or a website, is x100 better than me. If someone decides to make me the leader of coders, I won't tell them "I command you to use this syntax over that paremeter (?)" (coz I'm like Jon Snow.. I know nothing), but I WILL tell them to a) take daily backups/use version control, b) write comments on your code, c) do daily huddles, d) sit in pairs and review each other's code, e) some bright ideas/suggestions that THEY will make, f) I will bust my ... and try to study as many books/blogs/resources to learn the area (and managing coders better), g) I will talk to as many coders (young and old) as I can to understand them and their needs better. Does that make me a good coder? Hell no! I didn't mention "read Java" in any of my aformentioned example. Will this make me a good manager? Well I have managed OTHER teams in & around IT.. why not coders? They are people too!
- jtdev 6y ago
  How do you “know the requirements around it” if you can’t code? Imagine managing a team of diamond cutters and not being able to cut diamonds yourself... you would only recognize poorly cut diamonds after they had been cut and you would have no idea of how to help your team improve with specific recommendations and guidance.
- MeinBlutIstBlau 6y ago
  I personally like your management style just based off of how your wrote that. I respect it a ton and as long as you give me the time and understand where my skills may or may not be at, I thrive in that environment. I try to give myself goals, but when things are ambiguous, it's very hard to do that. So long as you get that and that coding is just like any art form: It's done when it's done. You can't magically make a pot by smashing clay; you can't make the mona lisa by just tossing on paint. Since programming is logical, it requires a different way of thinking and often times it's as creative as an art form. Demanding it gets done by "X" is ignoring the fact that not everybody is Da Vinci.

commandlinefan 6y ago

I don't know - in my experience as a programmer, when I work for somebody that's never worked as a programmer, they tend to estimate based on how long they wish something would take (which is usually an hour, two max). Ex-programmers turned managers who still code from time to time are far more realistic about how long something might take to complete.

MattGaiser 6y ago
And about how much small differences in assumptions and what was written in the ticket can impact development times.
bluefirebrand 6y ago
My experience with the > Ex-programmers turned managers who still code from time to time are far more realistic about how long something might take to complete. Is that they had huge egos and thought they could do everything in much less time than I could, or would just "put in the time to make sure it was done when it had to be" So nah, I prefer not having ex programmers as my manager.
- MeinBlutIstBlau 6y ago
  I have my supervisor and my lead I work under. My lead fortunately is very good and understanding of these things, but he also is kind of like that as well. My supervisor has absolutely no clue and just wants updates; thats all.

HenryBemis 6y ago

What if.. your boss doesn't know how to do your job, BUT he knows the requirements around it? E.g. I am an amateur coder. Anyone who has typed 3 pages of code without looking up on a book or a website, is x100 better than me. If someone decides to make me the leader of coders, I won't tell them "I command you to use this syntax over that paremeter (?)" (coz I'm like Jon Snow.. I know nothing), but I WILL tell them to a) take daily backups/use version control, b) write comments on your code, c) do daily huddles, d) sit in pairs and review each other's code, e) some bright ideas/suggestions that THEY will make, f) I will bust my ... and try to study as many books/blogs/resources to learn the area (and managing coders better), g) I will talk to as many coders (young and old) as I can to understand them and their needs better. Does that make me a good coder? Hell no! I didn't mention "read Java" in any of my aformentioned example. Will this make me a good manager? Well I have managed OTHER teams in & around IT.. why not coders? They are people too!

jtdev 6y ago
How do you “know the requirements around it” if you can’t code? Imagine managing a team of diamond cutters and not being able to cut diamonds yourself... you would only recognize poorly cut diamonds after they had been cut and you would have no idea of how to help your team improve with specific recommendations and guidance.
MeinBlutIstBlau 6y ago
I personally like your management style just based off of how your wrote that. I respect it a ton and as long as you give me the time and understand where my skills may or may not be at, I thrive in that environment. I try to give myself goals, but when things are ambiguous, it's very hard to do that. So long as you get that and that coding is just like any art form: It's done when it's done. You can't magically make a pot by smashing clay; you can't make the mona lisa by just tossing on paint. Since programming is logical, it requires a different way of thinking and often times it's as creative as an art form. Demanding it gets done by "X" is ignoring the fact that not everybody is Da Vinci.