How to make your software engineer cranky
There is one thing that I hate more than being micro-managed... and that's being micro-managed by someone who isn't my boss. As any programmer will tell you, being productive is hard enough at times.. without someone on an ego trip deciding that you're not 'allowed' to do something without his permission because he says so.. now there are perfectly valid reasons for someone to say that.. but in this case, not even a whiff of them was anywhere within a hundred mile radius..
But wait! There's more!
So we covered..
- micro-management == bad
- micro-management by not your boss == double bad
Remaining point...
Micro-management by not your boss in an incredibly rude manner that includes charming phrases like "crapping all over the database"... and trust me, I know I didn't affect or break anything.. I wouldn't be bitching about this otherwise... not to mention it was a test to benefit this particular wonderful person's underling.. (that poor guy) not me.
I had a point.. oh yes.
Work can be hard enough... it's not so hard to be nice to your co-workers (even the ones who are one engineering level below you) particularly when they're trying to help and aren't exactly being brain-dead (unlike the other day..shh) and getting in the way. Mmkay?
Maybe it's a gender thing.. good god, I hope it's not a gender thing..
Comments
Apparently it's not Friday yet... You're preparing for Halloween? Good luck anyway and don't let 'em get you!
Posted by: Ben | October 30, 2003 04:54 AM
I hope ( in your case ) it is not a gender thing.
This sort of thing happens all too often.
I find reading Dilbert helps.
Posted by: sam | October 30, 2003 05:01 AM
Tell your idiot non-manager to look in the dictionary for the word "delegation".
It's easy enough: give someone ownership of something...if they do well then that's fantastic (most competent employees fall under this umbrella), if they do poorly it's their fault. Simple. Then do this: if they screw up take the blame as their manager; if they do well pass on the praise.
Micro-managers are simply miscast employees. Blame *their* superiors for that.
There are *very* few good managers.
Posted by: Peter | October 30, 2003 11:29 AM
Somebody wrote an article about the "boss from hell" once, which in its main points said that most "geeks" (many geeks are the bosses of their startups) make the worst bosses. The author attributed it to poor lack of social skills, and lack of the teamwork mantra.
I thought it was interesting, but I didn't ever take the time to validate it and it didn't spring to mind until you mentioned your workplace issues. I've met quite a few people who were clean and control freaks though. I must say, those people scare me. They look like they're about to collapse on the floor and pass out if I happen to do a select statement on the database without telling them.
And what did you mean by a gender thing? Sounds interesting.
Anyway, have fun Kasia, tomorrow IS friday.
David
Posted by: David | October 30, 2003 04:35 PM