Live data from Hacker News

How to be a leader when the vibes are off

chaoticgood.management

141–150 of 206 posts

Re: How to be a leader when the vibes are off

#141
post #134

This reads like "How to follow orders and resignate". Only shows that companies are dictatorships where workers don't have a say

They are. Sometimes the managers are smart and voluntarily listen to the workers, but that isn't the same as workers having power. What should happen is that better run companies both get more value out of their employees and attract employees from the less well-run companies. But that doesn't seem to happen as much anymore with increasing consolidation and decreasing competition. At least that's how USA looks like from the outside. And this is across all sectors.

Re: How to be a leader when the vibes are off

#142
It is all true. I do the same. But it is not the healthy thing. C suite abuse should not be tolerated. People needs money but not at the cost of healthy.

I have someone in my family heavily affected by this mentality. 25y of treatment and it was never enough to bring him fully back to himself

Re: How to be a leader when the vibes are off

#143
post #51

> The right thing to do in this situation is to acknowledge that you see the situation the same way they do, but do it privately, within your immediate team only or in 1-1s. "Yeah, this new policy sucks, [...] If you're a manager in a company that does sucky things, does (inevitably) being quoted saying a policy 'sucks' risk you losing your manager job there? I'm an OG techie, who ends up doing some manager-y things,…

>does (inevitably) being quoted saying a policy 'sucks' risk you losing your manager job there?

It won't happen but even if it did the people above you understand the role & predicament of a middle manager...

Re: How to be a leader when the vibes are off

#144
post #129

This blog was essentially my exact strategy over the last few turbulent years. I know it helped my people and I don't regret it. but, man, did it take a lot out of me. I've seen a quip out there before about the perfect recipe for burnout being the combination of high expectations with minimal empowerment to achieve those expectations. and this current market is burning leaders in this industry out like I haven't see…

> high expectations with minimal empowerment to achieve those expectations One of the things that I've done multiple times over my career is, to be completely open and clarify expectations on the other side / higher ups. One of the ways this manifests is that I never put my signature on something I don't believe in; I can sign up to get as far as possible, but will be explicit on not guaranteeing a destination that I…

I tend to do that as well. Usually starting with a clarification of the expectations.

Then I ask what budget they are prepared to allocate to meet said expectations. If the answer is "none", I ask them which other expectation shall be lowered. This may seem confrontational, but it isn't really. If you want me to do more stuff without giving me the means and time to do it, something will suffer, and that needs to be made explicit by me, because I am the person facing the consequences when this something else can't be done adequately.

I was once asked to become the responsible electrical engineer for my institution. For them this was just a position they had to fill for legal reasons (otherwise they are liable in case of damages) and I have the qualifications, so they asked me. Then I explained to them that legally my role is only seen as valid if I am given the time and the means (equipment, room, powers to stop failings, etc) to do the job properly. Otherwise they would still be liable. I then asked them if they were prepared to dedicate that amount of my work time and an extra budget to that role. Surprise, they were not. So I declined. As of now I am still not sure where that liability went.

Too often management wants to have their cake and eat it too, and pointing that out isn't rude. It is one thing to ask someone who is idling have the time to take on tasks that are close to their job. But it is a totally different thing to ask someone who is already at 110% capacity and doing the job of three people to take on yet another job.

This is bad management. It is flattering that I am apparently good enough at my job to be constantly offered new responsibilities and asked advice at projects, but that is how you lose people like me.

Re: How to be a leader when the vibes are off

#146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t know if I’m misinterpreting the blog, but this feels like it suggest you just fall in line with the upper management while providing lip service to the plebs. As an IC I’ve always despised managers who’d be a very sympathetic ear in 1:1s but always be “part of the system” when it mattered the most. Yes it’s always good to not get into public arguments with the upper management, but this gives off a lot of “pl…

So what is your expert advice? A manager runs their mouth off publicly, gets fired/made redundant, and gets replaced with a manager who does buy into the company line? What concrete differences in behaviour would you expect to see?

A good manager gets in a fight with their superior(s) if their superior happens to be wrong. A bad manager will avoid conflict with their superior, nod too unrealistic demands and then badmouth the superior with their team. A catastrophic manager will actively push unrealistic plans towards their superior.

For me the main difference between a good and a bad manager is that the good manager is interested in delivering good work in a sustainable way that improves the team, while bad managers are interested primarily in looking good while burning resources and bridges for fast victories.

If you think what it takes to for example write a legendarily good piece of software, while building a team that is top class among other comparable teams, the surest way to not reach that is to cower in front of superiors and play both sides. If anything it requires a lot of resilience, patience, diplomacy, persistence and the backbone to defend ones ideals, projects and subordinates.

Re: How to be a leader when the vibes are off

#147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sucks this is being downvoted. Maturity is hard.

Maturity can be many things, but complaining about internet brownie points is not one of them, at least as far as I'm concerned. People disagree with all kinds of things and that's fine, that comes with the territory of having an opinion.

That's true - wasn't a complaint inasmuch as word of recognition. Parent was grayed out.

Re: How to be a leader when the vibes are off

#148
> I’ve even heard of people being told they need to be “at their desks at 9am” and “expected to stay until 5pm at a minimum.”

PMs always manage to end their day on time with "I'm heading out for a bit, I'll be back online later tonight for a quick check in on progress so send me a link when the ticket is complete" and I'll be able to finally say without guilt or shame "I'm heading out too and I'll continue working on your ticket tomorrow from 9am."

Re: How to be a leader when the vibes are off

#149
post #134

This reads like "How to follow orders and resignate". Only shows that companies are dictatorships where workers don't have a say

What is the answer? unions?

There is a tine to speak up. at meals with close family. At meetings with your boss. The right question at company meetings - though there are wrong question here: think long and hard before ask.

You can speak up it meetings with your team but be careful of the tone. You need to come off as overall having the companies back but this one thing you can't support. Or maybe things will change again. There are lots of options.

There have been recessions before. There will be a recovery. Leave when things get better (or you retire) and cite working conditions in the bad times in your exit interview.

unions can work, but they can force you into situation you don't want to be in.

Re: How to be a leader when the vibes are off

#150
post #134

This reads like "How to follow orders and resignate". Only shows that companies are dictatorships where workers don't have a say

Dictatorships are far more efficient.

That’s why military is a dictatorship.

That’s why “design by committee” has such a bad rep.

The only problem with dictatorships is that you can’t change them. Also countries shouldn’t fail, so an orderly “change of power” process is needed.

But you can change companies, and companies can fail.

Post reply on HN