My experience is that many Managers are very afraid of excellent workers. They don’t understand them. They don’t know how to talk with them. They don’t know how to manage them. A lot of Managers try to get rid of excellent workers.
My experience, too.
“My experience is that many Managers are very afraid of excellent workers. They don’t understand them. They don’t know how to talk with them. They don’t know how to manage them. A lot of Managers try to get rid of excellent workers.”
Been in tech for 3 decades, and I have mixed view on this.
I would say, that your experience may be your managers were not very technical deep themselves. IN tech, there are ton of people who’s egos far exceed their abilities. Usually they are bigger fish in smaller ponds, who think there poop doesn’t smell. Someone without the personal technical experience depth, cant always distinguish who’s good, and who’s good at appearing to be good.
Been hacking code for about 4 decades now myself, done every position/job/role you can imagine in that time.. Now I find myself managing more often than anything else, and I can say I have no fear of the “excellent” worker. I will say however, that often times when I speak with other managers and observe their teams, they don’t really recognize who the real stars on their teams are.
The “hero” guy, may be a good resource, but he isn’t always an “excellent” worker. Sure they show up when things go nuts and play hero, but they can, and often are, the guy who runs roughshod over the folks who would have done it right the first time so the fire never happened.
I’ve had good and bad managers, over my career. I have had horrible managers who were very technically deep, and I have hd great managers who werent. I’d say based on what you are saying is you have been dealing with mediocre managers with little technical depth if they are afraid of the “excellent” worker.
Also, 3 decades in the trenches makes you understand just how much of the tech industry is undiagnosed on the spectrum too..
I'll take it one step further. Many managers are jealous of excellent workers because they outshine them and are better workers than they are. Then they treat them like crap and make them want to leave.
I was in that type of situation for over 6 years before I retired this past April. No one wanted me to leave, except for that person, and now they are stuck with personnel who don't step up to the plate like I did.
I'm not boasting in my own abilities mind you, I just go by what my other co-workers told me. I always try to keep a humble mindset about everything.
As I always tell myself, "Except for the grace of God go I."