4 ms·

Very often when folks describe the ideal manager, they are describing themselves.

Retric 6y ago
That’s an interesting idea. Arguably my best manager had a graphic design and UI background. Where they excelled was having worked directly with software developers and non technical people for a decade they could understand the relevant tradeoffs without getting into the weeds. However, former software developers where generally much better the deeper and more relevant their technical background. Seemingly because they understand what to prioritize, but perhaps it’s was simply easier to communicate with them.
lbotos 6y ago
A quote I stole from some conference talk that i think of all the time as a manager: "You become the manager you wish you had, you need to become the manager your reports wish you had."
Der_Einzige 6y ago
Yes, and that's why worker self-management is the proposal one sees from any form of politics that doesn't care for managers -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workers%27_self-management https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workers%27_self-management To be honest, I would love to work for a place that implements self management even half hartedly. My understanding is that Valve is like that. Valve may not make things on the schedule that people want them to - but no one can deny that their quality is supreme.
- skohan 6y ago
  My perception is that valve has suffered some negative experiences due to bad actors interacting with its radically libertarian labour practices. I don't have insider knowledge, so I could be wrong, but this is the sense I have gotten reading articles over the years about how the IP for VR was handled for instance
  - Twixes 6y ago
    Sounds interesting, could you point to some readings on that aspect of Valve?
    - skohan 6y ago
      No I don't keep a curated list of every random article I have ever read to offer hand-picked readings to strangers on the internet, but search engines exist if it's something you're interested in looking into.
      - Twixes 6y ago
        Hey, why so passive aggressive? I've already read quite a bit on Valve googling it, just thought you might have some specific insightful article or thread in mind.
A4ET8a8uTh0 6y ago
My first reaction was to disagree, but then I tried to remember the embodiment of 'not-ideal' manager and, in my mind at least, they are basically everything I am not, or at least not want to be.

That’s an interesting idea. Arguably my best manager had a graphic design and UI background. Where they excelled was having worked directly with software developers and non technical people for a decade they could understand the relevant tradeoffs without getting into the weeds. However, former software developers where generally much better the deeper and more relevant their technical background. Seemingly because they understand what to prioritize, but perhaps it’s was simply easier to communicate with them.

lbotos 6y ago

A quote I stole from some conference talk that i think of all the time as a manager: "You become the manager you wish you had, you need to become the manager your reports wish you had."

Der_Einzige 6y ago

Yes, and that's why worker self-management is the proposal one sees from any form of politics that doesn't care for managers -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workers%27_self-management https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workers%27_self-management To be honest, I would love to work for a place that implements self management even half hartedly. My understanding is that Valve is like that. Valve may not make things on the schedule that people want them to - but no one can deny that their quality is supreme.

skohan 6y ago
My perception is that valve has suffered some negative experiences due to bad actors interacting with its radically libertarian labour practices. I don't have insider knowledge, so I could be wrong, but this is the sense I have gotten reading articles over the years about how the IP for VR was handled for instance
- Twixes 6y ago
  Sounds interesting, could you point to some readings on that aspect of Valve?
  - skohan 6y ago
    No I don't keep a curated list of every random article I have ever read to offer hand-picked readings to strangers on the internet, but search engines exist if it's something you're interested in looking into.
    - Twixes 6y ago
      Hey, why so passive aggressive? I've already read quite a bit on Valve googling it, just thought you might have some specific insightful article or thread in mind.

A4ET8a8uTh0 6y ago

My first reaction was to disagree, but then I tried to remember the embodiment of 'not-ideal' manager and, in my mind at least, they are basically everything I am not, or at least not want to be.