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“Manager READMEs” from some tech companies

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Re: “Manager READMEs” from some tech companies

#31

Post by jonas21 »

bitL wrote: post #20

The best company I've ever worked for had no managers (beside owners). They made it to $1B, loved by HN crowd, their products used by many of you, and nobody ever wanted to manage anything there. People just discussed stuff and decided to do whatever looked super interesting. One team there had actually a person that was behaving like a manager, and that product completely flopped on the market.

Care to name the company? You only have nice things to say about them, and I think many people are interested...

Re: “Manager READMEs” from some tech companies

#32

Post by elliottcarlson »

bitL wrote: post #20

The best company I've ever worked for had no managers (beside owners). They made it to $1B, loved by HN crowd, their products used by many of you, and nobody ever wanted to manage anything there. People just discussed stuff and decided to do whatever looked super interesting. One team there had actually a person that was behaving like a manager, and that product completely flopped on the market.

I can see it working, up to a point; introducing management can shift how things work overall, but if a company can get away with it, and that's what works for them, then great!

Relevant: https://getlighthouse.com/blog/flat-organizational-structure...

Re: “Manager READMEs” from some tech companies

#33

Post by elliottcarlson »

rdiddly wrote: post #24

These should be taken as the hypothesis statement at the start of an experiment, that will or won't be borne out by what actually happens. Show, don't tell. One reason: People can be wrong about themselves. Or they can, with varying degrees of either idealism or self-dishonesty, present a rosy view that amounts to little more than a sales pitch for themselves. If it's true, you'll find out soon enough. If it's not, y…

I completely agree - this document is worthless without follow through and accountability; which honestly was my motivation for writing mine. I want my reports, peers and boss to know how I expect to work and hold me accountable to the promises I make - I am not perfect, but the principles I outline is what I strive for.

Re: “Manager READMEs” from some tech companies

#34

Post by FireBeyond »

geofft wrote: post #21
thomas wrote: post #18

Reads like managers dictating how they are and how things are going to be. Employee number whatever: Here are your new instructions, deal with it.

One of the READMEs specifically promised that the manager believes their paid job is to adapt to their reports' style, so, no.

And one spent a good third talking about how you should feel about termination, the risks thereof, and what you should do about it.

Re: “Manager READMEs” from some tech companies

#35

Post by ojbyrne »

jonas21 wrote: post #31
bitL wrote: post #20

The best company I've ever worked for had no managers (beside owners). They made it to $1B, loved by HN crowd, their products used by many of you, and nobody ever wanted to manage anything there. People just discussed stuff and decided to do whatever looked super interesting. One team there had actually a person that was behaving like a manager, and that product completely flopped on the market.

Care to name the company? You only have nice things to say about them, and I think many people are interested...

The description fits Valve: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-talks-about-its-unus...

Re: “Manager READMEs” from some tech companies

#36

Post by ams6110 »

silveroriole wrote: post #8

Interesting that many seem to prefer weekly 1:1s. That seems far too much to me. I would absolutely dread having to spend so much time on that with my manager or my managees and I can’t imagine there are substantial benefits to it (does anyone REALLY have meaningful thoughts about their job/career path EVERY WEEK?)

I agree. I've had managers who like to do the weekly 1:1 and in every case I've ultimately left those jobs. It's too time-consuming, too intrusive, too personal, for no benefit that I ever saw.

Re: “Manager READMEs” from some tech companies

#37

Post by geofft »

FireBeyond wrote: post #34
geofft wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the READMEs specifically promised that the manager believes their paid job is to adapt to their reports' style, so, no.

And one spent a good third talking about how you should feel about termination, the risks thereof, and what you should do about it.

I reread them all but couldn't see it, sorry - which one was this?

(I mean, that sounds like a good thing. Firing people who aren't good for the team is an important responsibility of any manager who doesn't want the rest of their team to quit, so I would ideally want to know that my manager has at least thought about it a little.)

Re: “Manager READMEs” from some tech companies

#38

Post by FireBeyond »

geofft wrote: post #37
FireBeyond wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And one spent a good third talking about how you should feel about termination, the risks thereof, and what you should do about it.

I reread them all but couldn't see it, sorry - which one was this? (I mean, that sounds like a good thing. Firing people who aren't good for the team is an important responsibility of any manager who doesn't want the rest of their team to quit, so I would ideally want to know that my manager has at least thought about it a little.)

Welcome to Netflix and Me ( https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TPSwdqDqVfWG9anfiOjG... ), including slides like "Are you afraid of being fired yet?"

Re: “Manager READMEs” from some tech companies

#39

Post by elliottcarlson »

ams6110 wrote: post #36
silveroriole wrote: post #8

Interesting that many seem to prefer weekly 1:1s. That seems far too much to me. I would absolutely dread having to spend so much time on that with my manager or my managees and I can’t imagine there are substantial benefits to it (does anyone REALLY have meaningful thoughts about their job/career path EVERY WEEK?)

I agree. I've had managers who like to do the weekly 1:1 and in every case I've ultimately left those jobs. It's too time-consuming, too intrusive, too personal, for no benefit that I ever saw.

Out of curiosity, did you mention that to them?

Re: “Manager READMEs” from some tech companies

#40

Post by jedberg »

bitL wrote: post #20

The best company I've ever worked for had no managers (beside owners). They made it to $1B, loved by HN crowd, their products used by many of you, and nobody ever wanted to manage anything there. People just discussed stuff and decided to do whatever looked super interesting. One team there had actually a person that was behaving like a manager, and that product completely flopped on the market.

It sounds like you worked at Valve, or possibly Gor-tex, or another company with similar values.

If so, I have a question. How does compensation review actually work? Like what are the detailed logistics?

I understand the whole no managers thing and that your peers determine your salary, but how? How does that actually work? Who actually says, "this is the number" and who tells you the number?

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