Do you have a reasonable Boss? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2015, 10:23:31 pm
content: I'm just curious how many of you think you have a reasonable boss. By that I mean things like:1) You can tell your boss that they are wrong about something without fear of being fired or yelled at.2) They actually listen to you and your ideas.3) They don't make crazy decisions which effect everyone without any input from the team.4) They understand when you say you need more resources (time, money, equipment) to get some job done and do what they can to support you.Stuff like that. Just curious.::EDIT-2015::Edit to clarify. My boss is reasonably reasonable::EDIT-2023::He must have been looking over my shoulder when I wrote that in 2015. That dude was a crazy person, and I bailed on that company a while ago when he officially lost his mind

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2015, 10:30:52 pm
content: Yes, but as a contractor / self employed, I'm a rather biased person to ask..The people connected to my current jobs are pretty reasonable, but a prior job had its share of problems.If you're in a shitty situation and wondering if it's unusual, no, it's not. There are above and below average managers throughout the world, and sooner or later you'll get stuck behind one or the other. Them's the breaks...Tim

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2015, 10:34:40 pm
content: I have a great boss, we always agree and understand why deicsions are made.It's called working for yourself, I can recommend it!I did witness some really shitty things back when I did consulting and contracting though, made me question why people put up with it. The worst bosses were those who "managed up", made me sick just watching them, they were generally incompetent work-wise, but said the right things to the right people.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2015, 10:39:21 pm
content: I worked for a uni for quite a while and I'd say yes to all of them in that case.I work for myself and not always, my boss can be a c£$t lol.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 03, 2015, 10:53:53 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on March 03, 2015, 10:34:40 pmAnd FYI for those who think consulting and contracting is "working for yourself" - it ain't!

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2015, 10:57:16 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on March 03, 2015, 10:53:53 pmAt the end of the day you're always working for the customer

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2015, 10:59:48 pm
content: I am self employed too and right now I have two projects with two different companiesThe boss of one company is just perfect, understands all problems and ways of finding solutions and support me in any way possible.The other one is the total opposite and I wish for the day to come soon that this project is over.So, you never know, it can go in all direction.

author: Phaedrus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2015, 11:27:53 pm
content: No.

author: Seekonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 12:05:37 am
content: I had a boss once that I asked if I could take this time period off for vacation. He wanted to know why I was bothering him with it. You can take any time off you want as long as the work gets done.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 12:12:27 am
content: Over a long career I found that it was easy to be too quick to judgement. Some of my worst bosses later turned out to be my preferred employers. And some of the ones I liked best moved into my bosses dustbin. I also found that you can work with anyone, and even enjoy it if you have control over your own emotions.

author: KM4FER
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 01:28:24 am
content: A long long time ago I was on-call 24X7. There was one Operator who would call me at least twice a week in the middle of the night because he had tried something and it didn't work and he needed help bailing himself out. After a couple of years of this I finally convinced my boss to hire this kid as a sysadmin, over his objection that he was "a loose cannon". Once he was on the day shift I was able to push and pull him in the right directions and he created some great tools for our Operations staff.A few years later the BIG Bosses made a fatal decision (it didn't work out for them) to spend $100 million to replace our system and we were told that we would be phased out within 3 years. Not wanting to see the Kid have a dead-end job on his resume I pushed him to find a different job with a future, which he did.Another couple of years go by and after I had taken a year off to regroup I called the Kid to see if he knew of any job openings around. He talked to his boss and they called me in for an interview and I got a job working with him again.About two months later the Boss retired and the Kid was promoted to Boss. So now the kid who I had trained was now my boss and if I didn't like one of his decisions we would have a little "chat".All in all the Kid and I worked together almost 30 years. The first half I was kind of his boss and the last half he was kind of my boss.

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 01:44:17 am
content: Different business structures beget different behaviours from all levels of staff...!I've been lucky, but I know people in perfectly 'normal' occupations that have unreasonable expectations on them, their bosses and their departments - just because 'that's the way it is'... yet others in much higher pressure roles have a calmer, more organised way of dealing with peaks and troughs in the performance of those daily activities and problems.It comes down to how interested the businessownersare in the business - or is it just a money machine for their holidays and lifestyle. They may NEVER be involved in any aspect of the operations - just read the financial report each quarter -- or they may be more engaged.That's where the difference lays. "Follow the money"

author: kingofkya
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 02:18:41 am
content: 1) yep2) kinda (often forgets for months)3) yep4) yepHonestly, I think this question breaks down to does you boss trust you if he/she does then all the above happens. In my limited experience in IT at least.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 03:37:49 am
content: Not to sound like Peter from office space, but I have 3 bosses. All are pretty decent. My direct supervisor is in charge of Manufacturing IT, we have another supervisor in charge of Office IT and there's the IT manager who is their boss. My shift varies sometimes so I may get tasks from any one of them... Less so the IT manager, but his tasks are more along the line of generate a report of all people with admin rights to their computer and who's had a virus in the last month. Sometimes he'll have me update the digital signage with new media etc.I can usually get time off when I need it. Work a split shift if I have a school obligation etc. I guess since the company is partly paying for my degree I can't complain.

author: RJFreeman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 03:47:35 am
content: Direct supervisor/boss1) yep2) yep3) yep4) yepabove him, his boss1) Nope, gets insulting and snarky if his 'genius' is questioned2) Nope, he knows better.3) Always makes stupid decisions, classic case of Dunning and Kruger effect4) Completely clueless but thinks he knows everything (see also Dunning and Kruger effect)Before you ask yes I am looking for a new job....

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 06:49:34 am
content: I won't get started in the (mis)management of Government organisations, however I will give those in a managerial position one piece of advice:Remember the accomplishments and strengths of your staff but don't dwell on the issues when someone was last in trouble.This is something I live by. Everyone makes mistakes and fucks up. The most common flaw I've seen in some bosses (particularly middle management) is that they forever harp on about the latest issue even though it's been addressed and dealt with. They allow the negatives to cloud their judgement about someone and are quick to forget the positives and strengths. Which leads to stupid decisions like "Oh no, we can't let x do y because they made that mistake 2 years ago!"This just leads to inefficiency within an organisation and staff not being used to their full potential.I work in a paramilitary organisation with a clearly defined chain of command. One of the best bosses I ever had once slapped me on the back of the head and told me not to do something ever again, but then asked me if I was alright and wanted a lift home as if nothing had happened. I still have the utmost respect for that person. On the other hand, I now have a boss who micro-manages everything and listens only when it suits their agenda; needless to say, that person has lost sight of the bigger picture which is poison to the organisation.

author: babysitter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 07:03:06 am
content: Yes.My boss: Physicist, has kids, has been thru commerical and personal bankrupcy (single customer triggered it), control period reduced due to good succes.My benefits:- worktime: I can leave when my wife asks for assistance with the kids on agreement. No shouting in case I am late at work. Its all on a "If there is work to do, it must be done well, just the deadline counts." basis. Can work at home, too.- whatever money the customer gives, he doesn't hold back if I explain why I want to shop for something.- physicists understanding of electronics. Has a clue, needs some explanations of the workings. Good support on the math front.- myself gaining very good insight in fields outside electronics from him. I like to apply electronics as models for other physical phenomena, as in thermal design as a simple example that many elec guys usw.- "authority" behaviour very, very rare.

author: RJFreeman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 07:45:06 am
content: Quote from: Halon on March 04, 2015, 06:49:34 amwell actually, only people who are actually doing things fuck up, useless pricks who might pontificate at length, but never actually have to make stuff work usually don't stuff up.....

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 07:49:33 am
content: Quote from: RJFreeman on March 04, 2015, 07:45:06 amNot doing your job is included in the definition of "fucking up" :-)

author: hamdi.tn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 08:08:31 am
content: i use to work for a shitty one , his problem was- give contradictory decisions (some time in the same damn day)- project are rarely a client request as much as his one imaginary interest (designed so many things end up in trash cause no one asked for )- project material needs where never what we should use but what he think we should use ( he once asked for a led spot mounted in a washbasin sink, with standard led, he made client laugh so hard)- never listen to clients needs as much he imagine what the clients need- use clients resources to finance his own project ( not my problem, but this is too damn immoral )- if any thing go wrong, it's always finger pointing situation ( my college never got a complete salary cause he pay the bill when he do something wrong, i got fired for refusing that)am running my own business now , and as Dave said , you not really working for yourself , and for that it's easy to work with people within the Electronic industry who understand the design process and most of the time write a nice requirement documentation for their projects. more hard to ask any other industrial for the same thing , most of them doesn't even know what he need.

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 08:31:14 am
content: The boss is me.So yeah: awesome!

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 02:17:43 pm
content: When I was contracting, the worst boss I ever had was the one who used to take a register of when people turned up in the morning. Same guy would bugger off to the pub at lunchtime, never to be found later on. My contract renewals were done in a strip bar of his choosing. I hated it, looking back on it how could he possibly have thought that was appropriate? He had the audacity once to berate me for escalating a production problem to his boss when we couldn't contact him in the pub. It's the closest I ever came to walking out on the job, and I'd been doing it for about ten years at that point. Looking back on it I should have done, but we are all naive.The best boss? A newly minted physicist/philosophy post grad. He was 20 years my junior, I was doing some bits and pieces at ESA integrating a satellite. We worked all hours God sent, and if we could have slept, eaten et al in the clean room we would've. I ended up debugging other people's payloads without schematics, but we had a deadline measured in hours to ship the satellite to Russia for launch.He trusted my experience, but as he was project manager, I went to him for direction, after giving him options and suggestions, and opening up to his own ideas. The satellite launched and worked a few weeks later. It was the second biggest PR success at the time for ESA. (There were other problems later, but that's a whole other story!)

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 03:06:25 pm
content: Yes, absolutely. So far the best I can ask for. But here is the thing: Everyone above and around him is from crazytown. Unreasonable, shouting moronic a-holes. The amount of screwup generated by this are phenomenal. When he comes back from a meeting and tells me the decisions they made I usually keep my bag of facepalms very close.

author: Neilm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2015, 07:09:41 pm
content: Well, I'm waiting for Seppys comments.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2015, 12:41:23 am
content: Quote from: Neilm on March 04, 2015, 07:09:41 pm

author: photon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2015, 02:48:03 am
content: I think being a bad boss is part of the jobNot to underestimate the importance of getting along with the boss, but the role you are playing in the work, and if you are engaged, interested and learning, can help you ignore someone's pecadilloes.

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2015, 02:57:47 am
content: Truth is, the grass isn't always greener on the other side, you could go from bad to worse.Yeah, you have your managers "running" a project who do not have an iota of a clue about technical issues or resolution, yet feels the need to give their pennies worth, I dunno, maybe it makes them feel important, they promise things to the customer then complain when you tell them it can be done but will cost 3 x the amount originally specified due to the extra work.You have people wanting to use 1980's designs and wonder why components from the age of darkness are no longer available.You get the people who will think themselves "it" the self confessed geniuses who know everything and you know nothing.Ultimately, after a period of time, you get to know who these people are, what their game is, and how to deal with them, so as it turns out it's not that bad, full scale bullshit deflection is always activated now around these people.I find the best way to deal with certain people is to talk to them in top quality good sounding technical rubbish that they will not ask any more questions, make shit up, I do, works all the time and makes them look foolish to others who they try and look good in front of, puts them off asking you as they don't have the fundamental understandings to work out if you are telling them the truth or not.

author: mswhin63
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2015, 03:16:26 am
content: I used to be a reasonable boss, unfortunately sometimes being reasonable puts you at the risk of employees taking advantage of your kindness. Out of the six people that I employed over the time of my business only one of them was honest and had an integrity worth keeping. She was the last person I employed and at that time one of my contract was running out and decided I had to let go which was a real shame. I am proud to say though that she also managed to find a job straight after the contract working for the organisation that I had the contract with. And she turned out to be a brilliant worker for them as well.I coined the title "she" asshewas an excellent person I gave her a car to use I asked to do do the jobs that required and she did them without any complaints whatsoever. Yet after employing five other people all of them men each one had used the privileges that I gave them to their own advantage. So you got to ask when you work for somebody who is reasonable are you willing to try and cheat them.At the time though I'd have to say the mining boom in Australia was in full swing and it was very difficult to find reasonably qualified people to carry out the work needed small businesses had a difficult time during this period and to try and find a person was really difficult.Now I don't employ anybody as I am trying to wind up the business, I have run the business for 21 years now and I have never really had a decent holiday. I'm winding it up slowly but in relation to this post the main reason for wine winding it up is that I could never really find anybody reliable to carry out the tasks that I needed to get done. I also found that being reasonable didn't work very well or maybe I was just too reasonable.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2015, 10:24:43 am
content: Quote from: mswhin63 on March 05, 2015, 03:16:26 amThis guy got it right:

author: sunnyhighway
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2015, 03:30:12 pm
content: Quote from: Halon on March 04, 2015, 06:49:34 amHad a boss like that once.When something went terribly wrong, he would enter the room slamming the door and shout out loud "hey you dickhead" followed with a tirade with what went wrong and how it affected the customer.After he vented his frustration, he immediately calmed down and sat next to you asking in a friendly tone if I could fix the problem immediately or if I needed more time, information, equipment or resources.He always concluded with: "Oh, if it is fixed, I want you to think about how to prevent or lessen these kind of problems in the future. If it involves me doing or not doing something, don't spare me, Idowant to know. I'm only human as well you know."I guess he always felt a bit bad about the shouting part, because he would always buy you lunch afterwards.Despite the shouting and name calling part, still on of the best bosses I ever had.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2015, 09:32:00 pm
content: Quote from: sunnyhighway on March 08, 2015, 03:30:12 pmUnless the organization is actually military and the consequences of messing up is you getting killed or a lot of other people getting killed, I don't think physical or emotional violence is ever warranted. Especially not directed to engineers. Engineers make a living with their minds and the first thing violence does is shut down the mind. The response to violence is fight or flight... Not stop and think...I've been yelled at by a boss and my response was to want to tell the guy to F**K himself, not do more work for him. It doesn't matter who was at fault. It could have been my fault. It doesn't matter. Being pissed off at someone is human and sometimes you want to yell and scream, but that crap doesn't fly if you are in a position of authority over someone. Making yelling at your employees and then apologizing later part of your routine is bull shit, and that's exactly the quality of work you will get out of them. The bare minimum.In the above quotes, if I replaced "Boss" with "Husband" and "Employee" with "Wife" I'm pretty sure there would be a different reaction, not "utmost respect". You don't glorify that behavior when it's domestic abuse, so why do it when it's work place abuse?

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2015, 12:53:37 am
content: Work is a relationship like any other. The above analogy, should be not only unsurprising, but repeated daily!It follows that a first date is like a job interview. Bring resume and references!Tim

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2015, 04:38:59 am
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on March 09, 2015, 12:53:37 amBut hopefully not tooooo much previous work experience

author: Ericho
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2015, 01:55:51 pm
content: I have a very good relation with my Boss, we also have 3 kids