Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

What to do when your non-technical boss is just plain wrong

articulateventures.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–58 of 58 posts

Re: What to do when your non-technical boss is just plain wrong

#51

Post by cobrausn »

dpiers wrote: post #42
JohnBooty wrote: post #27

Good article. The part about figuring out your boss' motivations is the best part. This is really the key to any interaction with another human being whether we're talking about speaking to an overseas technical support person, your boss, your mom, or your partner. 0. Realize your non-technical boss isn't some cartoonish, mustache-twirling villian with a fetish for poor technical solutions. He or she is picking them…

| Realize your non-technical boss isn't some cartoonish, mustache-twirling villian with a fetish for poor technical solutions. He or she is picking them for a reason, possibly a misguided reason. I believe Hanlon's Razor applies here: | Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

Now if only 'we' would figure out that non-technical does not mean stupid.

Re: What to do when your non-technical boss is just plain wrong

#52

Post by nraynaud »

You know the downside of all that? You can only put so much in your brain and learn so much things at once. So while you are in creasing your skills in inter-personal communication, bargaining and psychology, you are just losing your edge on the technical side. The more you're becoming able to convince people, the less your idea has a probability to be enlightened.

When you've crossed the whole spectrum and all your brain is focused on bargaining, congratulation, you're the clueless non-technical boss.

Re: What to do when your non-technical boss is just plain wrong

#55

Post by jfischer »

lhnz wrote: post #23

I don't really fancy negotiating with somebody that is objectively wrong and in a higher position than me. Instead I will move the ground that they stand on. The best game to play in this instance is to gain favour with their boss and anybody actively competing with them while passively disagreeing with them. You must passively disagree with them because the aim is to form a situation where you re-inforce their polit…

This leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I've seen quite a few people use this approach in an attempt to get their boss's job, irrespective of the boss's performance in their position. In general, I think that fighting your boss only leads to a draw, almost never to a win.

Re: What to do when your non-technical boss is just plain wrong

#56

Post by jfischer »

Another approach that can work in big organizations: make sure that your boss knows that, if they ignore your advice, the responsibility for the decision is theirs, not yours. In a C.Y.A. organization this is often enough. Be sure to have written proof -- when it hits the fan, people tend to have selective memory.

Re: What to do when your non-technical boss is just plain wrong

#57

Post by meaty »

qxf2 wrote: post #31
meaty wrote: post #4

We usually refer ours to a Dilbert strip that defines the exact problem. Fortunately he has a sense of humor :)

Lucky you! Your boss is self-aware, confident in his role and trusts you - all key cornerstones to respectful negotiation. Make sure you reciprocate.

He's none of Been - he just knows when he's beaten :)

Re: What to do when your non-technical boss is just plain wrong

#58

Post by lhnz »

jfischer wrote: post #55
lhnz wrote: post #23

I don't really fancy negotiating with somebody that is objectively wrong and in a higher position than me. Instead I will move the ground that they stand on. The best game to play in this instance is to gain favour with their boss and anybody actively competing with them while passively disagreeing with them. You must passively disagree with them because the aim is to form a situation where you re-inforce their polit…

This leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I've seen quite a few people use this approach in an attempt to get their boss's job, irrespective of the boss's performance in their position. In general, I think that fighting your boss only leads to a draw, almost never to a win.

It can work though.

It's a long-shot to try and get your bosses job though. Aim higher or sideways.

This is a better method than others in the thread.

Post reply on HN