Hi, I've been reading TR for a couple of years now and don't think I've read any of your blogs before. I wanted to say I really enjoyed this one - I usually find '10 things...' lists a little hit-and-miss* but this one was fully fleshed-out and extensive with accurate and informative points for each item, and I really enjoyed the writing style. Thank you.
*My use of 'hit-and-miss' was no accident! I glanced at a few of the blogs tagged with your name, as I was curious to see if I have indeed read any of your posts before, and I happened upon the grammar blog from 2008. I know it's off-topic and years after the actual debate but I believe the phrase hit-and-miss is accurate, for this reason: it describes the *actual behaviour* of the concept to which it is applied. Obviously it's a boolean variable - it either hits or misses - but the phrase hit-and-miss conveys that it actually *does* both. That is, while it is successful sometimes, it also fails. This is distinct from being either a 'hit' (it works completely and consistently) or a miss (it fails completely and consistently). I think that grants it value as a descriptor.
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too many times have I seen an article discussion degenerate into a semi-literate verbal brawl. This particular reply, however, is complete, extensive, grammatically correct, and deliberately non-grammatical where needed. A joy to read, then 
It's nice to be nice. I do try to encompass as many of those qualities as I can when posting online, as it seems far too many folk are content to abandon them in favour of ill-considered personal attacks (on complete strangers, for that matter). Internet fora, like the world, are as wonderful as we make them - and as awful as we allow them to be.
That said, I'm about to begin a foray into an OS war so we'll see how long my good intentions last...
It was hard resisting the temptation to exclaim 'First post!'
That said, I'm about to begin a foray into an OS war so we'll see how long my good intentions last...
It was hard resisting the temptation to exclaim 'First post!'
Great article. There's always No. 11 - Expecting your boss to be an effective boss.
I'm sure that most of us have worked for a Manager who simply doesn't care for standards, quality or team harmony.
The quickest way to alienate a Manager like this is to expect them to behave as a good boss should e.g. effectively, smartly or even to provide inspration to subordinates.
This is a sure fire way to alienate yourself from them.
I'm sure that most of us have worked for a Manager who simply doesn't care for standards, quality or team harmony.
The quickest way to alienate a Manager like this is to expect them to behave as a good boss should e.g. effectively, smartly or even to provide inspration to subordinates.
This is a sure fire way to alienate yourself from them.
Some of my working environments have been Hell because I Refuse to do 1,4,5,6 & 9.
Having an entire crew of coworkers who make a career of incessantly performing the entire list, until those of us who actually WORK (thus making them look bad) are the ones who are let go.....seems to be the "way things are", the majority of the time.
Ur list iz rong >^o.o^
Having an entire crew of coworkers who make a career of incessantly performing the entire list, until those of us who actually WORK (thus making them look bad) are the ones who are let go.....seems to be the "way things are", the majority of the time.
Ur list iz rong >^o.o^
Coming to work and doing a good job is not priority anymore I guess. If you want your shoes shined go back to the 50s.
Bosses make decisions.
Employee execute them.
Bosses make decisions.
Employee execute them.
Using poor grammar and punctuation as well as using text-speak in a forum, might be the real reason you "look bad".
NOT to tell them what they want to hear, to NOT lie about how good they are, to NOT suck up because you have a little more integrity than that, to NOT mention to anybody that they are a waste of space,
just take a crap on their desk.
Might as well...
Do it up brown as it were.
just take a crap on their desk.
Might as well...
Do it up brown as it were.
There are a lot of people in the business world that could benefit from reading this! Great article!
michelinus got in #11, so here goes:
#12: Punch your boss in the face.
I'm sure we've all had (at least) one that really, really did need it...
Laterz!
#12: Punch your boss in the face.
I'm sure we've all had (at least) one that really, really did need it...
Laterz!
At the start of your article I was thining it was a joke... after some lines I noticed you were talking seriously.
Do not get me wrong. The article is great... if you have the right boss: unfortunately I have worked in companies and with bosses where the right attitude was exactly what you advice against.
Or maybe I shouldn't read Dilbet's strips.
Regards,
Vicente
Do not get me wrong. The article is great... if you have the right boss: unfortunately I have worked in companies and with bosses where the right attitude was exactly what you advice against.
Or maybe I shouldn't read Dilbet's strips.
Regards,
Vicente
You're right Some managers prefer the employees do these exact things. They are they ones who get ahead and are given promotions, even if the know nothing about the area! Been there, lived that!
Honestly, you're not just "alienating" your boss when you cast your peers in a bad light.
I would put at the top of the list: poor or infrequent communication. If your manager doesn't know the status of your work (s)he cannot manage expectations of customers or plan project work.
Sorry, Adam. You only have one boss. That's the person who gives you your performance review, bonus, and/or pay raise. That's also the person that will call you on a Friday morning to tell you that your position has been abolished.
Anybody else is just a stakeholder. Yes, you have to work within a team and with different team leaders. They are not your bosses.
Anybody else is just a stakeholder. Yes, you have to work within a team and with different team leaders. They are not your bosses.
IT people are doomed to a life where we are managed by people who couldn't do our job, and in fact, have a hard time describing what is we do. Often we are paid more than our boss as well. But, the other managers thought they had "management skills" so they got the job.
Conversely, sometimes the alpha geek rises to management -- where they quickly exhibit the Peter Principle. They lack organizational skills, management skills, etc.
If we are contractors -- most of us are now -- then often we don't get the best manager in the company. That is especially true with project managers, and again, they have no clue how to do what we do, but they feel the need to micromanage.
We are also the first to be fired in a downsizing, and first to be hired when something breaks. Therefore, we are not exactly scared about the prospect of losing our job -- been there done that got a better job in a week, etc.
So yes, while these "10 ways" is a great start, we need to think about the very special ways that IT geeks seem to run afoul of management, and at least think about how to manage that part of our lives.
Conversely, sometimes the alpha geek rises to management -- where they quickly exhibit the Peter Principle. They lack organizational skills, management skills, etc.
If we are contractors -- most of us are now -- then often we don't get the best manager in the company. That is especially true with project managers, and again, they have no clue how to do what we do, but they feel the need to micromanage.
We are also the first to be fired in a downsizing, and first to be hired when something breaks. Therefore, we are not exactly scared about the prospect of losing our job -- been there done that got a better job in a week, etc.
So yes, while these "10 ways" is a great start, we need to think about the very special ways that IT geeks seem to run afoul of management, and at least think about how to manage that part of our lives.
This is not isolated to IT. It can be applied to ANY workplace. I'm not in IT and I have this exact situation.There are managers who embrace employees who do all of the above. They hand out promotions to their friends and those in their cliques, all of their cronies. It will not end until presidents, ceo's, managers etc. recognise employeed based on the quality of their work, knowledge base and skill sets. This is very demoralizing to hard working employees who give 150% every day and work off the clock without compensation. Can you tell this is a burning issue for me?
Let me offer a number eleven, failing to see the vision. I have completed and participated in many projects. Some of these have been enormously successful for the company and has changed our position strategically from an IT perspective. However, if you declare a project the worse decision the company has made, you may have discredited yourself. Plus, you tell me that you do not have sense of vision or really understand some of the forces at work with technology. You just may be stuck in your thinking. The forward thinkers and innovators are the ones that are rewarded. So, watch holding onto the status quo it could cost you.
there's a difference.
And what are they really saying.
They probably aren't disagreeing with
"We wish to be the most recommended provider in the market place"
They might be disagreeing with that best way to do that is to switch to Ruby On Rails or Go Cloud, or do everthing on their iPhone as BuyYourOwnDevice proposal.
Course none of that matters because for many the real problem is, a mere pleb dared to disagree with their superior.
And what are they really saying.
They probably aren't disagreeing with
"We wish to be the most recommended provider in the market place"
They might be disagreeing with that best way to do that is to switch to Ruby On Rails or Go Cloud, or do everthing on their iPhone as BuyYourOwnDevice proposal.
Course none of that matters because for many the real problem is, a mere pleb dared to disagree with their superior.
It seems very much like Dilbert's PHB101 to me
I agree with geek49203 that there are some unique aspects of our environment and I would love to see more about those aspects. Two areas in particular.
1. How do full-time employees work effectively with contractors.
2. How do contractors work effectively with FTEs.
How do FTEs get maximum benefit from contractors?
How do contractors get the job done and get invited back?
1. How do full-time employees work effectively with contractors.
2. How do contractors work effectively with FTEs.
How do FTEs get maximum benefit from contractors?
How do contractors get the job done and get invited back?
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