All managers make mistakes; good managers acknowledge and repair • Hacker News Board

Re: All managers make mistakes; good managers acknowledge and repair

#131

Post by D-Coder » Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 6:35 PM UTC

delichon wrote: post #58

linsomniac wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolutely, EVERYONE needs to figure out how to benefit from their mistakes rather than try to sweep them under the rug. This is one recurring theme I bring up with my kids: If you don't learn from your mistakes, you've made two mistakes. It is really hard to say "I messed up", but you can't live your life acting like you don't make mistakes. Learn from your mistakes, and then move on.

Not so sure. I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die, failed to sweep him under a rug, and now I've got the Folsom Prison blues.

But at least you've learned to sweep the next ones under a rug!

Re: All managers make mistakes; good managers acknowledge and repair

#132

Post by ozozozd » Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 7:35 PM UTC

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #129

ozozozd wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does “tough but fair” mean? If you’re fair, what function does being tough serve? Or does being fair allow tolerating the shortcoming that’s being tough? An employee being tough - resilient, emotionally strong - sounds like a good idea. But manager being tough to reports? I fail to see the function/value.

They had high expectations (I suspect many here, would consider them “extreme”), and demanded that we take a great deal of accountability and responsibility. Not really big on micromanaging, but we were expected to deliver, with no excuses for failure. If I showed that I could deliver, they would basically give me a “blank check,” for support, but I was expected to take this high level of trust seriously, and not abu…

Thanks for explaining.

> High expectations, high trust, big support, a ton of agency, and really high standards on deliverables and transparency.

This sounds like a utopia to me to be honest. I am not sure if I agree with your assessment about how many here would not be able to handle it. My concern is many here won’t be able to offer it. I would love this type of management.

Re: All managers make mistakes; good managers acknowledge and repair

#133

Post by ChrisMarshallNY » Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 10:17 PM UTC

ozozozd wrote: post #132

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They had high expectations (I suspect many here, would consider them “extreme”), and demanded that we take a great deal of accountability and responsibility. Not really big on micromanaging, but we were expected to deliver, with no excuses for failure. If I showed that I could deliver, they would basically give me a “blank check,” for support, but I was expected to take this high level of trust seriously, and not abu…

Thanks for explaining. > High expectations, high trust, big support, a ton of agency, and really high standards on deliverables and transparency. This sounds like a utopia to me to be honest. I am not sure if I agree with your assessment about how many here would not be able to handle it. My concern is many here won’t be able to offer it. I would love this type of management.

It was Japanese management.

I loved the agency, but they could be brutal. I used to watch Japanese managers bring subordinates to tears.

They were gentler to me, but not that much gentler. I had the "privilege" of being in the "inner circle" of trust.

Re: All managers make mistakes; good managers acknowledge and repair

#134

Post by ozozozd » Sun, Aug 24, 2025, 5:51 AM UTC

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #133

ozozozd wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for explaining. > High expectations, high trust, big support, a ton of agency, and really high standards on deliverables and transparency. This sounds like a utopia to me to be honest. I am not sure if I agree with your assessment about how many here would not be able to handle it. My concern is many here won’t be able to offer it. I would love this type of management.

It was Japanese management. I loved the agency, but they could be brutal . I used to watch Japanese managers bring subordinates to tears. They were gentler to me, but not that much gentler. I had the "privilege" of being in the "inner circle" of trust.

Ah - agency and responsibility but without the western style boundaries.

I suppose there has to be a sacrifice.