Work (was The Trolls Among Us)

[Guest guest]

Vits:

> These are the Dilbert Zone managers who, the more we accomplish for

them (behind the scenes or otherwise), the more they seem compelled to

punish us, put us in our place (whatever that is), and essentially

tell us, " shut up and get back in your box. "

Don't you just get floored when that happens?

> When we complete a project ahead of time, or come up with a new

idea(even if shared only with them), they actually seem fearful and

threatened. This is when more busywork gets dumped on us, when

they start belittling us in both public and private, and when we are

chastised for spending too much time on projects which, last week,

were given to us as a priority.

:-(

> They seem terrified that we are after their jobs, when in reality, I

think all most of us want is to do a good job, and be an engine of

power for them.

For me it has helped to realize that even if someone has a powerful job and

an adult body, they may still be like children on an emotional or spiritual

level and react instinctively as if they're still in the sandbox or in a

cave.

> The only times I have ever had the thought cross my mind that " I

could do a better job than this turkey " (only 3 times in my career) was

after I saw this pattern emerge and persist over time. The thought

was driven partly by a sense of self-preservation, and partly by

outrage and offense at seeing a job (or that aspect of one) done so

pitifully badly. Definitely NOT from a desire for power-grabbing.

This is sort of happened to me when I saw some colour design done by one who

is considered one of the leading colour experts in Europe. I knew I could to

the same thing SO much better that I decided to be an interior design colour

consultant.

> Just once in my career did I confront a manager about this head-on.

It helped keep things a little more real for a while, but eventually

he just turned up the doubletalk, and the more I tried to get through

to him the more he spouted it, I suppose as a combination defense

mechanism and FO signal.

Unfortunately, you can't change anyone but your self (and even that is

friggin' difficult). :-)

> He was eventually removed from managing our team altogether, since

he was so spectacularly incompetent (trying to get ahead by being an

unthreatenig a55kisser doesn't always work, seemingly), but by that

time the team's credibility had been ruined, and it was broken up not

long after.

:-(

> The lesson I took from that was, a) if I ever have a chance to go for

a management position and keep someone like him out of it, I will,

and if I'm managed by someone like that again, I will leave.

Good.

> I wonder if Tom, or anyone else, can suggest some lessons here

as well. My current inclination is to make the jump to becoming a

consultant.

That sounds like a great idea. The lessons I learned when working are:

1. If you want a job done well, you probably have to do it yourself.

2. Don't expect anyone else to have the same logic, sense of perfectionism

and work ethics as you do.

3. Don't waste your talents where you're not appreciated.

> For the past few years I have felt like an adult being forced to sit

at a dolls' tea party inside some cramped toy playhouse, hosted by a

bunch of unpleasant and ill-tempered infants.

If I was in that situation I'd get fed up and get out.

Inger