What I Managed To Learn, Even From A Cynical Manager

The craving to control, the thrust to attain a distinctive but an intangible feeling - the POWER, to make things happen the way you want, is the ultimate desire.

This aura, which people want around them, is fanciful, BUT no one seems to care!

Often, this desire or this aura is mistaken by everyone, to be skilled.

Such people, are almost always, the ones to be recognised and supported by their superiors to have a free reign. Yeah, talk about Fairness and Openness! [It's a myth, for many of us out there!]

Have you seen the movie, where the people in power position are there for god knows what reason, but are not good fit for the role? Oh wait, that's what happens in every other team - Horrible Bosses!

If I talk about my current job, out of 20+ projects I have done, I think only in 2 (~ 10%) of these projects the managers were ideal, with whom I would want to work any given day. These people supported you, enabled you to learn and grow, let you make mistakes and be crazy, yet creative at the same time, and allowed you to take challenges bigger than you anticipated.

Then again, there were projects where I managed multiple tracks, managed the clients from different geographies at the same time, and did more than I could, and still taunted as not a capable person. Why?

Because, the manager wanted to show who holds the real Power!

In all unfairness, this person was not even a project or people manager, but a technical manager who wanted to be a PM, Architect, and a QA Manager and control everything.

OKAY, so if you think this is going to be an article about venting out my anger on the situation, you are going to be disappointed, since I was able to handle the situation.

BUT, this is about what I learned !!

I learned, how people can be at their worst (BadASS), yet be smart!

I will only talk about a few points here, otherwise I may end up writing a short story book.

• Start talking to peers (directly or indirectly involved in the project) about the person(s), and create a virtual image or a perspective (good or bad) all around - STORYTELLING, if used properly can even help you win a multi-million dollar project.
• Keep everyone in your domain (like Dev, QA, UI, or any other) team by your side - by rewarding them (whether they deserve or not - like a skip level or too early promotion or cash rewards, whether they are fresher or seasoned, whether there is a need or not). So, when the time comes, you have their support in return and no one would say a thing against you.
• Corner the guy you don't like, by complimenting and recognising every other person on the team, but him.
• Direct the team to follow a process, even if you are not from that domain or if you don't understand the process completely. And, when something goes wrong, just blame it on the person (and not the team) related to the process for not doing the work right.
• Not listening to anyone, and driving everything the way you want. Then, at a later stage, just claim you were not informed, or the discussion about the issue never happened, or the person did not do the job he was required to.

It's not like the work is not done properly, or the people on the job do not know what has to be done. However, these tactics allow you to be the worst manager you can be, yet be smart not to be questioned about anything, even if someone complains about you.

Perhaps, some of you could relate to these situations, or it could be an individual's perspective.

BUT, do let me know what you think about it? Or if, you have come across similar or related situations?

“My sincerest gratitude to every ass ****, horrible boss, and worthless piece of **** I've ever met for giving me new and endless material to work with and a way to earn a living exposing you.” 

― Crystal Woods, 

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