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January 03, 2006
Swanson's Rules of Management - Rule 6
Work for a boss to whom you can tell it like it is.
This is mandatory in the agile world. If you can't tell your boss the truth; If your boss doesn't want to hear the bad mixed with the good, then he or she isn't a boss worth working for.
I've learned this one from hard, painful experience. Bosses who don't want to hear bad news are worse than incompetent bosses. They will make you feel miserable, insigificant and pathetic. They will suck the joy out of work, because the fear of failure, of having to report bad news will dominate everything else. You will inevitably delve into corporate politics. You will find some way to be Technically Beyond Reproach. You will find people to blame. You will refuse to take on risky works. You will work to actively kill things projects that might make you look bad. In short, you will become everything everyone loathes about middle management.
"But by demanding success, this boss makes you work harder, and succeed more."
Perhaps. But isn't it likely that you will inevitably set your sights lower, and shoot for only the safely achievable, instead of the inspiring?
If you have a boss like this, start looking for a new job. Now. It's the new year. This is a great time to make a difference in your life.
Posted by jb at January 3, 2006 09:35 AM
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