Zen of Office Politics
posted Wed Sep 26 21:29:25 +0000 2007 - permalink
Office politics are tough enough, but sometimes leading a talented group of smart people into success can be especially mentally and emotionally taxing. Here's some do's and don't's.
Do manage things that have visibility. For example that ticket system. Some of those really old tickets have probably already been closed by recent revs. Go through and pick them off. They make not only you, but your team look good to upper management. Be sure to give kudos where they are due.
Don't refer to your underlings as such. Ever. When you are constantly giving kudos to others, sometimes it feels good to flex your leadership position. Don't. Ever. Do. It. If you need a pat on the back, go to your boss' office and politely request one.
Do build consensus. If you can't convince your teammates you are right, how can you be so sure you are?
Don't make arbitrary calls. There's a difference between tough calls and arbitrary ones -- the tough ones are when your team looks at you to make a decision because there are at least two legitimate technical paths to the same goal. The arbitrary ones are when you tell your boss about a technical decision you haven't discussed with your team.
Do take your team out after a job well done. When the going gets tough, the tough go get dinner and a drink after a job well done, on either you or the company.