Have you ever wondered how your boss got their job? Have you ever thought "this guy is so incompetent, he probably doesn't even know it"? How/why does this happen?

Whenever there's an job opening, staff are frequently asked if they know anyone who might be a good fit. This is indeed an excellent way to jump start the hiring process; personal references are frequently much better than "off the street" hires. The obvious caveat is that the inside person doing the recommending has good sense and a good understanding of more than just the skills required. For example, the inside person may be a good person and a good employee but may not understand the corporate culture or their friend well enough to see that it just won't work out: think highly structured vs. very laid-back, for example.

What does this have to do with getting an incompetent boss? ⇒ Read more

There's no such thing as a perfect company - any enterprise consisting of more than one person is going to have issues (and to be sure, there are single-person enterprises that have major issues).

Frequently, the larger the organization, the more likely one or more of the following is going to be true. Note that there is a difference between an event or incident and an actual pattern. Incidents can sometimes be explained (everyone has bad days); patterns are worth noting.

Here, then, are the top ten patterns that could convince you to pack your bags: ⇒ Read more

I hate to break it to you, but I'm your boss. Your complaining and dissatisfaction fall on deaf ears, most of the time. You can be replaced. Keep it up, and you probably will be. Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger.

No matter how useful or clever you are, or how hard you work, your continued employment is an economic decision: you earn your pay (and more), or you don't. If you don't, you're probably headed for the unemployment office at the next downsizing opportunity. ⇒ Read more

"It should just work." "All ya gotta do is..."

We've all heard this time and time again. For those of use who have spent much time in Software Development organizations, this battle cry is an anathema to those of us who like to have some proof. ⇒ Read more

Why does it seem that information gets a fresh coat of varnish as it passes up through the company ranks?

I know I've seen this happen too many times to count. The front-line grunts know that things are bad, that there's no way that the project will be done according to the current schedule (or worse). The conscientious and courageous ones let their managers know, in frank, honest terms, that there are major problems. ⇒ Read more

(Cartoon courtesy of gapingvoid.com)

This is one of my favorite resources from a few years back. Hugh MacLeod of gapingvoid.com offers his insights into some of the ways the modern organization fails to accommodate the human needs of the people in them. And he talks about ways to retain or regain your creativity and humanity. ⇒ Read more

They're watching you. All of the time.

Every move you make. Every sentence, every word you utter. Your emails, your instant messages.

Every expression on your face. Every smile. Every frown, every furrowed brow.

Every action you take. ⇒ Read more

Have you ever noticed that some people are so incompetent they don't know how incompetent they are? This, by no means, is a unique or new observation.
In fact, this story 'broke' several years ago and was picked up by all the usual major news sources (there are a zillion citations but here's the New York Times one for reference. In essence, Dr. David A. Dunning of Cornell University concludes that incompetent people lack the basic skills needed to assess themselves properly. ⇒ Read more

Dear Ms. Management:

My manager (who is also the Director of Engineering) is either in a meeting with peers or superiors, or has his face buried in his computer all day long. The only time his staff sees him is at weekly group lunches or the weekly staff meetings. He does absolutely nothing to reach out to his direct reports. I've never worked with a more inaccessible or distant manager. ⇒ Read more

This is the manager who doesn't remember what her folks are doing between one meeting and the next. ⇒ Read more