The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss
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@dafyre said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
@Dashrender said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
... the point being that the boss demands X, you do X, and then something bad happens and you get blamed for it.
This is why I will never blindly do something. I'm sorry, I don't care if you're the janitor, or the Master of the Multiverse, I'm not doing to do something just because the boss says to do it -- Especially if it is something that will come back and bite ME for doing what my boss said to do.
Now that's not to say I won't do it. But I'm going to talk with the boss about it, get more details and have a conversation with him about why his request is a good or a bad idea, or why I don't understand why he wants it done in a particular way.
Once I understand what the boss wants, and/or have my CMA's (Cover My Ass) in writing and documented, then I'll do it, even if it is still something I don't agree with doing.
I have a brain, I'm going to use it.
You are an easy one to deal with. You're fired.
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I know I'm a little late on this, but why are most of you discussing business relationships like "do ti or you're fired". I worked in 4 companies so far, and I never experienced that.
I always assume that I am paid to do what is best for my boss/company. Very often, that means to explain to my boss that I believe we have better solution than what he asks/suggests as solution.
I don't remember I have ever had problems with my approach. -
@Mario-Jakovina said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
I always assume that I am paid to do what is best for my boss/company. Very often, that means to explain to my boss that I believe we have better solution than what he asks/suggests as solution.
I don't remember I have ever had problems with my approach.In theory that's why someone hires someone in IT. But the average company does not do that and does not expect IT to actually provide guidance. Bigger companies, yes. But having worked in many countries, it's not just in the US. In fact, some places like Italy it is far worse... the owners or business managers absolutely demand control of IT decisions and IT is just there to look pretty or something.
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@scottalanmiller said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
@Mario-Jakovina said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
I always assume that I am paid to do what is best for my boss/company. Very often, that means to explain to my boss that I believe we have better solution than what he asks/suggests as solution.
I had this type of relationship with my previous boss before she died. It was a great IT/Business relationship. It had worked well for many many years and I was thanked for it most of the time.
In fact, some places like Italy it is far worse... the owners or business managers absolutely demand control of IT decisions and IT is just there to look pretty or something.
With the two people who took over after my boss died, I am in a situation similar to this but not to this extreme (yet?) as I am still asked my opinion, whatever that is worth.
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@pmoncho
Yeah - that's where I find myself. I get asked for suggestions, then looked at strangely for wanting to spend money. -
@scottalanmiller said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
But the average company does not do that and does not expect IT to actually provide guidance. Bigger companies, yes.
OK, but most average companies do not last long
the owners or business managers absolutely demand control of IT decisions and IT is just there to look pretty or something.
I think it's not problem who makes decisions - the real question is does management listen to their staff or expect them to "do what they're told to do".
Good management always listen to their subordinates. -
@Mario-Jakovina said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
OK, but most average companies do not last long
Very true.
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@Mario-Jakovina said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
Good management always listen to their subordinates.
Why even hire advisers that you don't listen to?
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@scottalanmiller said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
Why even hire advisers that you don't listen to?
Well, that is obvious to probably everybody.
But what is less obvious to bad managers, is that employees who are not formal advisers, who are at the bottom of business hierarchy are excellent source of ideas for improvement of business processes. I am talking about all business segments, not just IT.
If you do not use that resources you are wasting them and you are bad manager. -
@Mario-Jakovina said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
@scottalanmiller said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
Why even hire advisers that you don't listen to?
Well, that is obvious to probably everybody.
But what is less obvious to bad managers, is that employees who are not formal advisers, who are at the bottom of business hierarchy are excellent source of ideas for improvement of business processes. I am talking about all business segments, not just IT.
If you do not use that resources you are wasting them and you are bad manager.Source of ideas, potentially. But they also have no idea what makes sense to the business itself, as they have zero insight into the business as a whole.
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@JaredBusch said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
Source of ideas, potentially. But they also have no idea what makes sense to the business itself, as they have zero insight into the business as a whole.
Agree, but as I said, most companies fail to survive. And not understanding your own business is main reason for it.
But, here we usually promote "best practices" in IT, so I think we should talk about best practices in management too - not just what "most folks do" -
@scottalanmiller said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
@Mario-Jakovina said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
Good management always listen to their subordinates.
Why even hire advisers that you don't listen to?
because they are really just your grunt monkeys
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@Mario-Jakovina said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
@JaredBusch said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
Source of ideas, potentially. But they also have no idea what makes sense to the business itself, as they have zero insight into the business as a whole.
Agree, but as I said, most companies fail to survive. And not understanding your own business is main reason for it.
But, here we usually promote "best practices" in IT, so I think we should talk about best practices in management too - not just what "most folks do"Of course we frequently do - but that conversation is more just a feel good exercise as it doesn't apply to anyone who's actually bringing forth the given problem.
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@Dashrender said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
@scottalanmiller said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
@Mario-Jakovina said in The Fundamental Flaw in Not Listening to the Boss:
Good management always listen to their subordinates.
Why even hire advisers that you don't listen to?
because they are really just your grunt monkeys
That makes no sense. Grunts make better grunts. Advisers are expensive and get snarky when you don't listen. Grunts are cheap and happily do what you say.
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Recorded this in like May and it just posted today, but boy is it right for this discussion.
https://mangolassi.it/topic/20554/disconnected-why-companies-encourage-bad-it-decisions
