You Know, The Guy Who Tells You What To Do
I'm throwing this out there, as an honest question:
Has your boss done anything useful for you in the last, say, month? Something that helped you get your job done, or that made you happy, or that made your world better?
What?
Comments
Absolutely.
My boss (the lead designer) and his boss (the creative director) are both hands-on kind of guys and are constantly working alongside with the team.
Granted, I work in computer games, so that might be anomalous to the working world.
Yes.
Since I'm now in a management position myself, my opinion is that my boss should not tell me what to do, but should tell what needs to be done and then let me do it. There is a subtle, but noticeable difference. I'm reasonably capable myself and have a whole team of very capable people. Telling me what needs to be done is a more efficient use of our resources. I'm currently fortunate to be in a position where my group is managed this way.
My boss has been 'working remotely' for the last 2 months. His not being in the office has helped my productivity tremendously. If your referring to actual actions taken by said manager that benefits my job, I got paid. That most likely occurs due to a computer program sending funds to the bank rather than any direct managerial action, but he no doubt takes credit for it regardless.
As a general rule, my boss is a no-nonsense, no-fluff, get the job done kind of guy.
After working for him for 18 months with little feedback, positive or negative, I was shocked to come home last week and find that he had purchased EVERY item on my amazon wish list. Arriving in tandem was a lovely card with a simple note about my value to the company and my success so far.
I know it wasn't for him, but for me it was simply priceless.
No.
Yes. He asked me what I needed to be more productive, and he got it for me.
When I insisted on leaving at 4 to take care of my daughter, the head of my department not only fought to let me have that right, but then promoted me to lead writer on a new game. Even though he has no kids himself, he has put himself on the line to help me have the balance I need.
I'm not sure I have a sufficiently objective or aerial view on my current situation to give an honest answer to that question. For example: I have been able to take a very relaxing vacation which, by happenstance, came at the end of a project so there was no work I had to do while I was on vacation. Is that something my boss has done for me, or something that my boss simply has not taken away from me?
I am well-remunerated, and allowed to do my own thing much of the time, which is very good. Recently a couple of people in positions of authority have helped me find things I was looking for (e.g. a framing company for a picture I needed framed; and other more major things). Those are helpful things. But I like to think that bosses are humans and will do things that are kind like humans, you know?
After many years of clunker bosses (my way or the highway was about the best I could hope for), I've had a series of GREAT bosses. The two keys for me seem to be:
1) They go out of their way to make sure that I have a comfortable work environment
2) They tell me what needs to be done, make sure that I understand the entire environment (technical and political), and then just stand back and monitor the situation, occasionally offering advice. If I don't follow it then I take the consequences (both good and bad).
Having been a supervisor at one point, it can be a lot harder than it looks. You're in charge of a bunch of people, most of whom you didn't hire, any one of which can really shaft you either by messing up big time or developing a dislike for you that can be quite irrational.
My experience as a supervisor was particularly hideous because MY boss specifically hired me to fire two people she didn't like. One of them was a 70+ year old with colon cancer who was distracted from his work by his disease, he went easy, he knew he wasn't meeting requirements and knew why, so he resigned on his own free will.
The other was a senior developer who was just about to sign on a new house and was the sole income earner in his family. The guy actually did good work it was just that he'd been promoted above his competence level and given inadequate support (I was very much in the same boat at the time and could understand his problems all too well). I worked with him and he was showing quite a lot of progress and I thought I could keep him but my manager over-ruled me and fired him two days before he closed on his house. She got the priveledge of doing the same for me about 5 months later and I've never agreed to be promoted into management since.
Actively helpful? No.
But I work remotely, and my boss is very hands-off - since her hands are full of her own projects - so I don't expect a lot of pro-active "What can I do to improve your lot" from on high.
But when I need her to approve something, get something from management, or answer a question, she's right there on top of it.
Not really. He hasn't actively impeded me, which is good. :)
I pretty much run my own show where I am right now. I'm the only one who knows how all the writing and recording fits together and as long as things keep moving forward, they leave me alone. It's nice.
Sometimes not fucking with you is the best thing your boss can do!
I have to say my boss is really good about regular positive feedback. Given the nature of my job, that's vital to help provide a sense of progress and accomplishment. He also does a good job of insulating our department from upper management, which I appreciate.