Feedback on project input request 7

[coldmountain]

Hi Everyone,

I would like to hear your opinion on the email I got from my boss. We are starting a pretty big program and at the beginning of 06 my boss asked me for a planning and goals for myself and the program. I sent my boss an email asking for guidelines for the overall program. Below is the reply I got. I wanted to give you enough background but not too much so that what I said will affect your opinion. Please comment on the email below.

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Regarding the ****** program, I do have the overall program goals and timelines. But, I would like to see you start your plan and goal first, and then we will sit down together to finalize your plan. The reasons I am doing this are: I want to use your imagination and creativity to move this program as far as possible; also to practice your leadership skills in terms of program milestone and timeline. I am doing this is to avoid taking over your thinking and not leaving the room for you to grow.

This is some of my suggestions. When you think about this program, pretend yourself as a program manager and put your thoughts through like: what market this product can go to/what is the risk/challenge in each market/how and when we can take this product to market/what needs to be done to get this products into the markets. Give some thoughts during this week, and I can sit down with you earlier next week to get details.

*******************************************************

 

[zdas04]

Looks like someone who has read too many "effective manager" books. What he's saying is reasonable, but whenever bosses said that kind of stuff to me it felt patronising.

David

 

[ctopher]

zdas04, I thought the same thing.
Has he recently become your boss? Have you not been with the company long? Seems to me there were recent changes and your boss is 'testing' the waters.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 05
AutoCAD 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[Heckler]

It sounds like a previous boss I had that would take my data and repackage it then submit it to his boss. Then take all the credit. I got tired of pulling that SOB along in his career so I quit.

 

[HgTX]

Sounds like he's saying nothing at all.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[MadMango]

I'm not reading any of that into the above email from Coldmountain's boss. I read it as the boss wanting to expand the responsibilities of Coldmountain, with the project/program schedule being a baby step. Not knowing your history with your company or boss, I'm leaping to the conclusion that he/she wants your unbiased input for the program. He/she may be thinking that since you have not been dulled by years of exposure to similar projects/programs you may provide a new outlook on how the milestones can be achieved.

[green]"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."[/green]
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[Hoagie]

I follow the man and work with him, no doubt. I believe he considers you a pro and worthy of this responsibility. What else you want? Your arss kissed? LOL.

Good luck,

H.

 

[jdarco]

I would view this as an opportunity to show your boss your ability to think creatively. Too often, if people are given an idea of the expected answer, guess what result they will come up with? They strive to conform.

Give the program some thought as to how you would make it successful. Then review it with your boss and ask for his input. This should be a great learning experience.

 

[KiwiMace]

I know some very effective managers in well organised corps that work like this, so i'm tempted to say follow along.. (He's asking for a 'work and development plan'). However these managers have always talked like that. If your guy has suddenly started this, i'd be checking his library to find out what book he's reading!

 

[Nella95]

Looks to me, that he's trying to relieve him/herself from blame if things go awry wo/ giving you any direction. By putting into e-mail he/she has documented for CYA cases later down the line.

And - this isn't meant to be critical of your boss at all.

 

[epoisses]

Coldmountain,

First of all, don't communicate with your boss by email and secondly why wouldn't you just do what he tells you!
I used to supervise a group of engineers and frequently challenged them to come up with goals and timelines for their own work just to see what they were capable of and to make them progress.
Don't try to read between the lines too much, don't overanalyse.
Yes he may be reading too many effective manager books, so what? At least he doesn't shove his ideas down your throat (although he might if yours are not exactly the same, you'll find out soon enough).

 

[Ashereng]

It's a case of:

Fool me once shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.


Is this the first time? If yes, go along and see what he has to show you when you guys sit down.

Is this the second time? If yes, it depends on what happened the first time now doesn't it?

 

[buzzp]

Just based on the email, I see nothing wrong with obliging his request. Seems real reasonable and more managers should practice these types of techniques.
Now if there is more you want to tell us to hear what you want to hear, I would be interested in hearing it.

 

[RDK]

My initial reaction was that the guy had read too many “How to become an Effective Manager in 7 EZ Steps” books however I’d follow Ashereng’s advice and go along with him if it’s the first time and if it’s the second time prevent what happened last time from reoccurring.

Anytime I see anything full of jargon like “goals and timelines” “room for you to grow” and “risk/challenge’ I get suspicious. Why cannot any manager simply say something like

“The project is not yet very well defined but I want your best guess as to what it will be and what our capabilities will be in supporting this nebulous project.”


Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com

 

[HgTX]

"I used to supervise a group of engineers and frequently challenged them to come up with goals and timelines for their own work just to see what they were capable of and to make them progress."

But would you force them to do so before filling them in on all the details you had about the project?? That's what this boss is doing.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[NozzleTwister]

At my first job out of college, as part of our annual performance review, we had to establish short term and long term career goals and outline a plan on how we were going to achieve those goals. In the next performance review we had report on our progress in achieving those career goals and report on whether we were following the plan we established for ourselves the previous year. Then we had to set new goals and submit an updated plan.

This sounds similar except is applied to your companies products instead of your career path. This should separate the leaders from the followers so take this as an opportunity to show what you are willing to do promote your company and products.

And as the others said, make sure he's not going to pass on your ideas as his own. There's nothing wrong in passing on ideas as long as credit is given where credit is due.


NozzleTwister
Houston, Texas

 

[debodine]

Unless you have been burned by this boss in the past, I would advise accept the challenge and show what you can do. Unless you have other reasons to suspect duplicity, it could be a great opportunity for you. And if you do get burned this once, you will know a lot more about this boss to guide you in making future decisions.

My two cents, but then again its your opportunity on the line, not mine. Also, other than your post I have no clue about the rest of your environment at that company, so take my advice with multiple grains of salt. Whatever you decide I hope you're a winner!

debodine

 

[IRstuff]

Clearly, a bunch of cynical burnouts are responding here ;-)

It's rather disappointing that when a manager appears to doing precisely what he's supposed to be doing, e.g., helping you grow into more responsibilities and experience, he gets accused of all sorts of nefarious and underhanded behavior.

Time for all of you to find another boss to work for!!

If you have no other negative data about your manager, accept it on its face value. If he's truly doing the right thing, you've got yourself a keeper. And you can thumb your nose at the naysayers here. At the very minimum, he's not indifferent to you and that's already better than average. Even if he's as bad as some people here might think, bear in mind that he's thinking that your ideas are worth stealing, which is a kudo for you.

My personal experience is that there are indeed managers who are willing to take the time to nurture employees and help the reach their potential. Whenever I've found one in my career, I stick with the guy. I once worked for the same manager at 4 different companies over 18 yrs, because he was a keeper. Caused me a minor panic when he retired, but luckily, I joined up with another great manager and I've worked with this one for over 11 years at 4 different companies.



TTFN

 

[Ashereng]

IRstuff,

I think everyone would be better off with a good boss, as you have been luck enough to have.

Cynicism is a survival tool. It has kept me out of harms ways many times. Like any tool, it is neither good nor bad. It depends on what you do with it.

My feeling is that all the posts seem to offer both a blend of acceptance and caution, in equal amounts.

When you walk out onto thin ice, its always good to have a buddy on the other end of the safety line with a sled.

 

[Beggar]

I guess I'm just naive.

Why does this indicate "reading too many effective management" books?

What is "too many?"

What is wrong with a manager doing all he can to develop his/her management skills by reading books and attempting to put the information into practice?

It's unfortunate to see the cynicism which abounds.

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