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comment by Foveaux
Foveaux  ·  779 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: U.S. workers have gotten way less productive. No one is sure why.

My manager has started a DBA, which frightens me as she seems to be a walking, talking testament to poor management techniques. But is also exactly what the higher ups want in their managers.

To her, we're numbers. So when I don't treat my team as numbers, she's confused and her solutions to my problems don't mesh.





Devac  ·  779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I mean, if you're not conforming to her models, then the only options are bad model or your fault, and what do you think is more likely?

Also, if DBA is a thing, I'm gonna start titling myself as Archduke of Applied Ontologies. It's only fair.

Foveaux  ·  779 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Oh for sure - I'm the outlier as far as she's concerned. But the trouble is, she hired me knowing my personality. Knowing I cared about people and had the respect of the wider organization (like, 5000 staff overall). They genuinely created this role I'm in, with me in mind. I was basically strong armed into applying, and I was pleased to do it! I occasionally wind up in committees and usually someone there goes "Oh it's you! I've heard all about you! You did this thing, wow I thought you were a woman..". That last part happens a lot. Not a lot of men in our area.

Anway, I'm well thought of and I thought that would carry over.

Yet when I insist on continuing being the positive, affable person she hired - she's all no no no these people need an iron fist to rule them. It's my fault for not conforming to what she needs, but I really don't want to change myself. So I change the job! And the hunt continues.

That's not to say I don't know how to manage people, I just don't subscribe to her methods. Which so far have encouraged people to leave out area at a phenomenally rapid rate, and we can't backfill so the remaining staff pick up the slack, get tired, and the cycle continues as the big cheese continues her power trip.