I had the chance to go from programming to management. I didn't want to go. Unfortunately the leadership didn't tell me the filled the position, so when the manager left, AFAIK there was no team manager. I stepped up and promptly stepped in it. It turned out the "intern" was actually our new manager. Fortunately everyone else on the team knew I didn't want that job and the explanation that having no one managing was so much worse than being a manager was adequate.
Had some good mentors who said management experience would be good for my career. The downside of believing that taking a management job would be good for your career. In the 70s I was what was called a high potential employee at the biggest tech firm. I had become really good at my job and wound up attending a lot of personal development courses, including a compressed company paid business administration college degree program. I believed that I needed management on my résumé in order to continue to rise through the ranks. I was so completely wrong! I really hated management from the first day. I had bought into the line that it would be good for my career. What a load of BS that was I lasted a year and a half and finally got back into something I liked and was good at and very productive. I also landed a job leading a team on a major product development, but was not a manager, loved that. My take away: unless you really think it through, you should not take a manager job because it would be good for your career. You really have to want to get up in the morning and go do your job. My whole time as a manager I hated having to get up and go to work. 45 years later and I have had some wonderful jobs some not so good ones but I have done what I really like to do.
The company I work for and in much of the Canadian government, professional engineers and scientists chose late in their career if they want to become a manager or to be continue to be paid more as a senior professional. These senior professionals don't create what HR calls "compression" where the boss is paid less than the employee. Our senior professionals can be paid more than their boss.
I call this the Jordan Effect. Michael Jordan was arguably the best player of all time. He was horrible at making other players better (or managing in any capacity). People are are naturally better at doing a thing, are often pretty bad at teaching other people how to do that thing. In part because the people who are great at a thing, usually have abilities that other people do not, to draw upon. So if MJ gets double teamed, what does he do? Jump really high and stay in the air longer than your opponents to get off a good shot. Well, joe blow basketball player can't do that, so jordan may be limited in what he can teach joe blow. But Phil Jackson, or Steve Kerr, or Marc Jackson, guys who had to develop in a different way to be successful in the nba, can probably better teach other people how to develop and get better. Same with sales. Often the best sales people are natually charismatic and have certain unteachable qualities. But an average sales person who had to develop systems to be good at sales can better teach other more regular sales people how to perform better.
Oh my goodness? What’s so hard to believe about that? The crappy salespeople obviously have a different skill set than the good salespeople. It makes all the sense in the world that it would shake out that way. How did you manage to get yourself a podcast?
They do and it's a well known phenomena. It's called, promoting to failure. Same thing. They also have warrant officers who are generally not leaders, rather, experts in their field.
Wow guys I been listening to your podcast last three years now on tablet in the clink n just saw ya visual for first time. Dubnah I got close to guessing n yet Levitt shocked me completely. Thought he looked like Phil Coulson SHIELD agent from Marvel Avengers movies n yet he looks all GQ like Johnny from Karate Kid movie original ya shocked totally hahaha. First day back on www in four years now n worth it rock that howse Freaks!!!!!
I have never had any desire to go into management. I have stayed in the technical track, and have no regrets. Go Katie!
Excellent episode. 😊
I had the chance to go from programming to management. I didn't want to go. Unfortunately the leadership didn't tell me the filled the position, so when the manager left, AFAIK there was no team manager. I stepped up and promptly stepped in it. It turned out the "intern" was actually our new manager. Fortunately everyone else on the team knew I didn't want that job and the explanation that having no one managing was so much worse than being a manager was adequate.
Had some good mentors who said management experience would be good for my career. The downside of believing that taking a management job would be good for your career. In the 70s I was what was called a high potential employee at the biggest tech firm. I had become really good at my job and wound up attending a lot of personal development courses, including a compressed company paid business administration college degree program. I believed that I needed management on my résumé in order to continue to rise through the ranks. I was so completely wrong! I really hated management from the first day. I had bought into the line that it would be good for my career. What a load of BS that was I lasted a year and a half and finally got back into something I liked and was good at and very productive. I also landed a job leading a team on a major product development, but was not a manager, loved that. My take away: unless you really think it through, you should not take a manager job because it would be good for your career. You really have to want to get up in the morning and go do your job. My whole time as a manager I hated having to get up and go to work. 45 years later and I have had some wonderful jobs some not so good ones but I have done what I really like to do.
The company I work for and in much of the Canadian government, professional engineers and scientists chose late in their career if they want to become a manager or to be continue to be paid more as a senior professional. These senior professionals don't create what HR calls "compression" where the boss is paid less than the employee. Our senior professionals can be paid more than their boss.
Being an IC means you get paid to not give a flip when the day ends. It helps if you don't have a need for status or control.
I call this the Jordan Effect. Michael Jordan was arguably the best player of all time. He was horrible at making other players better (or managing in any capacity). People are are naturally better at doing a thing, are often pretty bad at teaching other people how to do that thing. In part because the people who are great at a thing, usually have abilities that other people do not, to draw upon.
So if MJ gets double teamed, what does he do? Jump really high and stay in the air longer than your opponents to get off a good shot. Well, joe blow basketball player can't do that, so jordan may be limited in what he can teach joe blow. But Phil Jackson, or Steve Kerr, or Marc Jackson, guys who had to develop in a different way to be successful in the nba, can probably better teach other people how to develop and get better.
Same with sales. Often the best sales people are natually charismatic and have certain unteachable qualities. But an average sales person who had to develop systems to be good at sales can better teach other more regular sales people how to perform better.
The Peter principle is rampant in the US Military
Oh my goodness? What’s so hard to believe about that? The crappy salespeople obviously have a different skill set than the good salespeople. It makes all the sense in the world that it would shake out that way. How did you manage to get yourself a podcast?
I'm surprised that military officers aren't the focus of Peter Principle studies.
They do and it's a well known phenomena. It's called, promoting to failure. Same thing.
They also have warrant officers who are generally not leaders, rather, experts in their field.
Wow guys I been listening to your podcast last three years now on tablet in the clink n just saw ya visual for first time. Dubnah I got close to guessing n yet Levitt shocked me completely. Thought he looked like Phil Coulson SHIELD agent from Marvel Avengers movies n yet he looks all GQ like Johnny from Karate Kid movie original ya shocked totally hahaha. First day back on www in four years now n worth it rock that howse Freaks!!!!!
should a great nfl quarterback be promoted to head coach? you can see how skill doesnt cross over.
Animals
Become the boss or be your own boss and quit complaining and blaming others.
Never stop blaming others you say?
And with all the bullies wanting your lunch money, you'll finally understand why America is full of but holes