Probably not a good title to choose ... I can see Gretchen or Zoe finding my name attached to that title when I do actually apply to Microsoft someday.
I was talking to Raj earlier about IT new managers. He too works in an IT department of a financial company in Boston. We somehow ended up with the following theory that would explain why some of the younger managers in IT departments aren't the best managers in the world, have little interest in being good managers and would really rather get back to doing what they love:
--Start of theory--
In the late 90's people were getting promoted and salary increases that may have been a little more than deserved (mostly market driven). When the market corrected itself (stock market) and layoffs occurred, some people had to become managers (even if they didn't want to or were not ready to) or loose their jobs . Now that it is 3-4 years later, a lot of IT departments have a whole layer of managers who were not ready, some have stepped up to the challenge, others have not. Those that have are still young and stuck until someone above the retires or leaves. To end the theory, IT is stuck with a lot of Goldfish that really need bigger jars, but no new jars are in the budget.
--End of theory---
How do you handle the ones who have not? Do you let them step down and get back into what they really want or do you force them to stay the course they were pushed into and try to lead them to “their destiny” (think the Emperor in Return of the Jedi)
Remember that commercial with the quote “I want to work my way up to middle management” or ”I want to be a yes man”? Does anyone consciously think that?
I am now realizing that I ask more questions in my entries than I answer, but hey ... its my blog, I'll ask if I want to. I just like to hear other people's thoughts and views (because I still have a lot to learn!). By the way I'm not a manager (I am a project manager, but have no one that reports to me directly). Personally I know we always have the choice to change jobs whenever we feel our current position isn't in line with our career goals, but not everyone feels this way. Oh and by the way, I don't think people like it when you remind them that they can always find another job (I know some people who have been out of work for a while and it doesn't sound like a good story to me).