1/ 90% of middle-management problems aren't so much make-work/bullshit as they are impossible problems
Conversation
Replying to
2/ Example: making 2 reports on your team who fundamentally hate each other due to a trust fallout get along anyway and "be professional"
2
1
4
Replying to
3/ Managers try to "solve" these problems because TINA: there is no alternative. Not because they know good solutions.
1
1
1
Replying to
4/ These problems are TINA because the people involved need the job/money and have to stay on and "make it work" even if very, very badly.
1
2
Replying to
5/ Managers get props for trying hard and doing better than "utter, miserable failure" not for producing spectacular, elegant solutions
1
1
4
Replying to
6/ But the *moment* there is an alternative, and it is picked, it becomes clear how godawful the "best" previous solution really was
1
1
4
Replying to
7/ About 90% of the time, the "alternative" is for somebody to make an exit, removing the impossible problem altogether.
Replying to
8/ Over last 400 yrs, such exit options have proliferated. Serfs for example, had a once-in-3-generations chances to exit by revolt
1
3
Replying to
9/ Today, you're likely to have 10-13 jobs/3-4 careers in a lifetime. And 4-5 project-level exit opportunities within each job.
1
5
Show replies
