Manager in Doubt: Help or Hinder?
"Successful technical leaders employ a general style that we call problem-solving leadership. They focus on the process of innovation and they do soin three major ways:
* understanding the problem
* managing the flow of ideas
* maintaining quality
...leaders may use motivational, organizational, and informational means to accomplish, in the end, a better way of solving the problem"
...............Gerrald M. Weinberg
Major release is around the corner. I want to be on a front line. I am eager to execute my technical leadership. The question is, however: do I help or do I hinder?
I ask what the problems are. I run between product managers, testers, and developers and ask what the problems are. I carry information faster then light (at leat email), and I make people see each other and communicate. I participate in discussions, brainstormings and arguments as a facilitator. I contribute with my ideas, but I easily withdraw them then someone offer better solutions (and it happens all the time). I am immediately available to take responsibility and make a final decision when required, without delay. If they decided to burn some midnight oil, I stay with them and share the tough part and show that I really care. I charge the team with my energy, enthusiasm and passion. So I help.
Or: I run as a chicken with my head cut off, interrupt developers, and increase everyone nervousness to the level of panic. I call them off for all these little meetings and short coordinating meetings all the time, and bring more managers and testers with their opinions for endless arguments. I stick my nose into their work, into technical details as if I can understand it, and then I throw stupid irrelevant ideas that they have to listen. I jump in and make sporadic autocrative decisions without understanding a problem. I stick around in the office so when the night comes I make them feel bad when they go home. And all the time I run, rant and ramble loudly with idiotic smile on the face. So I hinder.
Whether I help or hinder, to me it looks identical. Which one is real? How can I possibly know?
2 Comments:
How can I possibly know?
What is turnover like after your project? Are you getting internal transfers joining your teams, or are they transferring out?
That's your answer.
Great post.
This site might help...
http://www.salesdogs.com/pages/diags/disfunctional/disfunctional_diag.html
Do words "Code of Honour" sound like a good guide?
Does it really matter whether you write code or add value by selling a good product or service, for this matter?
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