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.

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[Ashereng]

Here are my reasons for my suspicions. Take into account all I have to go on is the short "excerpt" in the OP.

1) If my manager wanted to "develop" me, wouldn't he do it face to face rather than through email?
2) If this short "blurb" is his example of my development, I think I'd rather be "developed" by someone else.
3) Unless I am already very knowledgeable, giving me an "open sky" assignment is a waste of my time, and a great frsutration tool.
4) Why all the "bus speak" jargon? I am in I&C. I can sling jargon and acronyms with the best of them. I don't. Why? Because I just confuse the heck out of anyone who isn't in my discipline, and cause confusion.
5) The fact that coldmountain is posting this leads me to believe that he is somewhat suspicious. If he wasn't suspicious, he would have done it by now and not have posted it.

Like I said, cynicism is a tool to be used. It is neither good nor bad. Sort of like my mom saying my motorbike goes too fast. Well, it only goes as fast as my wrist.

 

[HgTX]

The source of the cynicism is the initial poster asked the boss for information about the project, and the boss said, "Well, I have that information, but before I tell you what I know about the project, you tell me what you think."

That is game-playing, not "development".

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[debodine]

I have disagreed with HgTX on a few other occasions, but Hg has long ago earned my respect for clear thinking and excellent communication. So before I disagree, I will state that Hg may in fact be absolutely correct...coldmountain's boss may be playing.

As a counterpoint though, let me share some recent developments. I lead a team of six engineers, three reasonably experienced, three not very experienced. Some months ago I decided that two of the three experienced engineers are ready for stronger leadership roles, and I knew from observing them and conversing with them in the past that they were seeking such roles. So I began to assign them tasks that required them to lay out and oversee a project from square one, so to speak, which is what I do.

While I did not specifically tell them "I have that information" as Hg quoted from the original post when I assigned these tasks, in fact I already had mapped out how I would layout the projects. I considered it my responsibility to have plans ready in the very unlikely case that they were not up to the test. My purpose was to give them a chance to shine while protecting my employer if I had evaluated either of them incorrectly.

On the tasks they have been assigned since I began this course of action, each of them not only rose to the occasion, but except for a few tweaks of guidance on some minor points, they really didn't need my imput to layout these tasks. Each task has been successfully completed to the point that senior management has transferred one to a leadership position on another team and the second has received high ratings and is in line for the next leadership opportunity.

Long story to make short point...the boss in coldmountain's original post may be for real. I am not coldmountain's boss, but I have operated in the same manner to develop leaders.

debodine

 

[SmartEngineer]

To be fair enough, what your boss did is that he sent you a reply on your email with an explanation of the programme you and your boss are going to achieve or do with defined timeline.
I guess he considered you as a beginner who needs guidance and help especially in doing such basics or foundation of new employee "We are starting a pretty big program and.."
It's correct that your boss has theories of management (some are not practical) but he's still has the skills as it can be seen from his words.
I think that you can take your boss's email as a tool that would help you in doing your programme well. Taking it as argument will frustrate you while there is no need for such frustration with your first pretty big programme.

All the best

cheers
SmartEngineer

 

[HVAC68]

I think the Manager is a very fair person from what I can read from the mail.

He is transprarent in why he is doing something and explaining the same. He says that he knows what the goals and timelines are. But, nevertheless he wants the sub-ordinate to do the same. He also explains the reason why he wants the subordinate to do that. He gives a few suggestions and asks the subordinate to use his imagination and do the job.

What more can you ask from a Manager ?

I wish I had such a good boss !!!

HVAC68

 

[HgTX]

My really good former boss found ways to encourage my independence, growth, etc., without deliberately withholding information from me. "Here is everything I know about the project. What do you think is the best way to accomplish this? What do you think you will learn from this, and how does it mesh with your personal goals for your job?"

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[kontiki99]

I'm not sure why you raised the question.

Just work up your plan and roll on.

You don't have any choice, but to do your best, unless you considered doing otherwise!

If you take two weeks over agonizing over 30 minutes of planning, it will day a lot.

I don't see email communications as a problem in busy environments, it lets people communicate in their own time slice and to think a bit, perhaps even doing a bit of research before answering a question.