War with the boss

[tcpip]

As regular readers will know, I work for a high-performance and scientific computing centre. Half my time is seconded to provide collaborative service technologies to an Australian-wide and federally-funded group.

My manager in the later group is a problem. He is ignorant of the technology he manages, he is incompetent at actual management, and he uses the 'big dick' method of staff relations. Needless to say, this does not engender much respect for the tech staff he manages.

My last two quarterly reviews have expressed, in no uncertain terms, that I have been extremely good at responding to customers and pleasing to work with. In this one, the manager has decided there is a problem in this area - without providing any evidence of course - and has started waving his authority around.

I think it's the realisation that he's getting the push from higher up, so he's responding in kind. After all I am the sort of person who doesn't automatically give deference to a person just because they have 'manager' in their name, and I am also the sort of person who will say something or somebody is in error if they are. A manager should be able to take that.

In a nutshell, I'm going to war with my boss. Wish me luck.

Comments

[zey.livejournal.com]

I'm usually one to say: Never do battle with your boss; even if you win, you lose. (ie: even if you win on technical merits and logic, they'll make your life hell for it later.)

However, if he's already on the outer, and knowing you I'm sure you're held in high regard and respected there, it sounds like you'll have a very good chance of winning this round. Best of luck with it :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm going to have to be very strategic and incremental in this war. Work on the edges and let him fall on his own sword.