New ask Hacker News story: Ask HN: How have you successfully managed upwards?
Ask HN: How have you successfully managed upwards?
2 by throw4238 | 0 comments on Hacker News.
I've noticed a pattern in my professional life I'd like to break: Some of my flaws: - Not padding estimates enough - Agreeing to to much (and too wide a variety of work) Pattern: 1. Place says all the right things (we work on tech debt, testing, etc) 2. I start working there 3. I do the things in the flaws list above 4. (1) was a lie, scope constantly added, never time for anything 5. Leave for new place Some of this is definitely my fault, but some of it seems to stem from: - It's hard to push back when the power dynamic isn't in your favor - Our industry is young - Management seems to want to "churn and burn", even at small companies. Deadlines over everything, even when times are good This leads me to my question: How have you successfully "managed up" when you were an individual contributor and didn't want to lose your job, but management politely patted you on the head and acted like they knew better. Do you build relationships? Get them to like you? Work lots of overtime? Keep quitting until you find a place that isn't about churn and burn? I'm tired, HN. I'd like to make at-least-ok software in 40h/week and have a life outside of my work laptop. Thanks for your time.
2 by throw4238 | 0 comments on Hacker News.
I've noticed a pattern in my professional life I'd like to break: Some of my flaws: - Not padding estimates enough - Agreeing to to much (and too wide a variety of work) Pattern: 1. Place says all the right things (we work on tech debt, testing, etc) 2. I start working there 3. I do the things in the flaws list above 4. (1) was a lie, scope constantly added, never time for anything 5. Leave for new place Some of this is definitely my fault, but some of it seems to stem from: - It's hard to push back when the power dynamic isn't in your favor - Our industry is young - Management seems to want to "churn and burn", even at small companies. Deadlines over everything, even when times are good This leads me to my question: How have you successfully "managed up" when you were an individual contributor and didn't want to lose your job, but management politely patted you on the head and acted like they knew better. Do you build relationships? Get them to like you? Work lots of overtime? Keep quitting until you find a place that isn't about churn and burn? I'm tired, HN. I'd like to make at-least-ok software in 40h/week and have a life outside of my work laptop. Thanks for your time.
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