Most bosses are aware of the issues, so an engineer playing a rebel and bringing them up wins nothing. The only way to attract attention is to leave.
If you never ask for change, you’ll never find any.
Ask HN: What do engineers never talk to their bosses about, but should?
11–20 of 83 posts
Re: Ask HN: What do engineers never talk to their bosses about, but should?
#12At least at big corporations it should be about all the corporate double talk and broken policies/promises. Edit: why downvote? This has been my experience. If we dont talk about it, then it will never be fixed.
From the site guidelines, please don't talk about downvotes in comments. It never does any good, and it's boring.
You can expand upon your original comment without that part, and let the votes fall where they do.
Re: Ask HN: What do engineers never talk to their bosses about, but should?
#13Their career aspirations and what they need from their managers for that.
I sort of agree.
My company makes a big deal about this in 1-on-1s. It seems that none of the talk amounts to much. Like the only impactful stuff is when a manager says stuff like "I know people throughout the company. If you make me happy I can get you promoted to one of those teams". Although I despise this because it's basically backroom deals full of bias instead of focusing on promoting/hiring the best people. Maybe I'm just disillusioned from the idea that meritocracy was supposed to be the major part of that process.
Anyways, what can managers actually do to help us achieve our aspirations?
Re: Ask HN: What do engineers never talk to their bosses about, but should?
#14Most bosses are aware of the issues, so an engineer playing a rebel and bringing them up wins nothing. The only way to attract attention is to leave.
Step 1: Assume nothing.
2: Voice your opinion directly to your supervisor in a respectful manner, and ask for follow-up.
3: Wait for follow up and track any changes made to processes or whatever.
4: Give a reasonable amount of time.
5: Then leave.
If you skip to 5, you're not really trying to fix the problem. You're just jumping ship - that's not a solution, really. Being an adult professional in the workplace requires you to confront problems directly.
Re: Ask HN: What do engineers never talk to their bosses about, but should?
#15Skepticism about tech/ideas that management likes.
Re: Ask HN: What do engineers never talk to their bosses about, but should?
#16Depends on whether or not the boss can be trusted.
I've had bosses where the only thing they ever heard from me were optimistic status updates on work in flight.
I considered them completely untrustworthy -- one for lack of competency and one for being a clumsy power seeker.
But in general I would only talk to my boss about issues that (1) I'm OK with my boss telling other team members that I said what I said about it, (2) I'm OK with my boss having input on what course of action to take on the topic, and (3) I trust that the conversation is unlikely to be interpreted in some negative way for me.
Re: Ask HN: What do engineers never talk to their bosses about, but should?
#17In short, it's the small talk that isn't so "small"
Regardless of whether you're an "engineer" or not, you need to have an understanding of what your management chain views both the goals of the company, the goals for your team, and how whatever it is you do fits into that
Those conversations should be organic and natural, but far too many folks (especially those of the "engineering" bent) either never ask, or ask only obliquely during annual reviews
Not having an understanding of how what you do affects the organizations units you are in is one of the greatest contributing factors to employee restlessness and complaining
If you know why you're there, you're more likely to stay - or to find a team where you'd be a better fit
Re: Ask HN: What do engineers never talk to their bosses about, but should?
#18How they are uncomfortable dealing with a certain difficult "team member".
I don't know if the "should" because this kind of discussion smells like trouble for all parties involved.
Re: Ask HN: What do engineers never talk to their bosses about, but should?
#19Most bosses are aware of the issues, so an engineer playing a rebel and bringing them up wins nothing. The only way to attract attention is to leave.
I once had a series of exit interviews that went all the way up to the vp of engineering. I think they all knew the issues but didn’t want to admit it. I was also being coached on what to say to the higher levels. I really did not appreciate that.
If they're coaching you on what to say at least they think that the higher level isn't acutely aware of all the issues. So you might still have done some good with your honesty.
Re: Ask HN: What do engineers never talk to their bosses about, but should?
#20"Despite our recommendations, Kubernetes is actually not needed here"