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- They tell you what they want and trust you to do it. They don't say "it has to be done yesterday." Likewise, they trust you to come to them when you need some
by sgbeal 3y ago
- They tell you what they want and trust you to do it. They don't say "it has to be done yesterday." Likewise, they trust you to come to them when you need something.
- They shield you from other organizations or colleagues who would otherwise try to monopolize your time. They actively act as a funnel for such requests.
- When they ask you for input, they don't ignore it out of hand. If they decide to not accept the input, it's because it conflicts with other inputs or organizational priorities.
- They never, _ever_ say "you're the best!" The only people who say that are low-level managers and marketing people who have just cajoled an IT worker to do something ill-conceived.
- vintagedave 3y agoThis encapsulates what I try to do as a manager, and it’s something I needed to read today. Thankyou. I do worry a lot about how good a manager I am, mostly because I’ve followed the IT -> management path like many others here on HN have. I’m feel especially concerned what I do unconsciously or unaware — that is, not what I do, but what I don’t do, or do without awareness of its impact. I wrote an article about one aspect, unintentional incentivisation, a while ago. https://daveon.design/what-are-you-optimising-for.html https://daveon.design/what-are-you-optimising-for.html
- 2rsf 3y agoGreat answer! What do you mean by not using "you're the best"? an exaggerated compliment followed by a methodic and logical explanation of why you are doing good is not necessarily a bad thing.
- sgbeal 3y ago> What do you mean by not using "you're the best"? an exaggerated compliment Exactly that. Exaggerated compliments come across (to me, anyway) as condescending. Honest feedback is all fine and good, but meaningless pseudo-praise like "you're the best!" sounds to me exactly like fingernails on a chalkboard.