I'm glad someone finally mentioned it here. I also have a huge problem because the manager doesn’t understand what I’m doing. Communicating with him is a nightmare. It is awfully hard to speak to a non-technical person about development. (The fact that they lack managerial skills as well is a whole other topic.) I wonder why this company insists on managers without technical skills who make a hard job even harder.
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@OP+1fcob3QH No WE do understand that you don't respect us or our experience, sh-t on us behind our backs and steal company time by pretending and actually not doing anything. I saw people who haven't written a single meaningful line of code for many years and still being part of the team (they are good people). That's why we leave our jobs and sell our homes so YOU can stay where you are.
Highly effective technical people could often benefit from a 'people manager' who handles management tasks and stays the heck out of their way.
Give me requirements and I'll make you look like a rock star.
I've always felt like it was the less-performant team members who feel like their manager needs to always be down in the weeds with them. It's frankly not a good use of a manager's time. And I don't appreciate what often comes off as micromanagement in that case.
I've had so many managers in a few short years and met a handful of great managers but unfortunately they are minorities in IBM, and rarely IBM lifers, but more like came in with fairly recent acquisitions. Not saying the majority are bad people at all, it's just often cases they have no clue thus misguiding teams unintentionally.
Ibm is probably the only company that allows nontech 1st line managers, it's seriously awful. 90% of them are thus useless because they're just people managers, they also put hindrances in ones work instead of clearing them. Their work could be done by an intern+some hr help.
Ibm managers are the worst.
You work for a company that promotes nepotism so...
My last few managers were young girls with no tech knowledge.
(and no managerial skills to speak of)
The good thing is you can BS them and they will have no clue.
Best to get on their good side if you want any upward mobility.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
I have the same problem, my first, second lines and the director level which I work with quite often are clueless. I have to educate them all the time, and they still struggle... well, I don't think they struggle, they just don't care! What a f-ing waste of my time to have to work with such losers.
I have worked for/with some managers over the years who were non-technical. They had great managerial skills and were able to put the right team/people around themselves, people they trusted. They cleared the way and dealt with the BS so that the team could get the work done. They fought for awards, promotions and raises for their people.
Now if they also have tech skills, well then you hit a home run and it makes the job even more enjoyable.
IBM…the land of empty suits….