Leadership Principles

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george__ said:
Bahaha

I am literally in a career fork right now and this has helped

Thank you

edit - SOO off topic but I don't want to create a new thread

If you were a new grad would you ..

- Work in a small company, gain work experience and bail
- Start off at a big firm right away
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Depends on the industry. In trades, small to medium size companies can have you doing a variety of things and gaining lots of experience. Larger companies can have you stuck unless you kiss someone’s ass.

Sometimes is harder to get noticed for your efforts in large companies but, if you network and make an impression, you can move around.

Where I see folks getting passed over is when they felt they deserved more responsibility or a promotion but, never mentioned what they wanted. It was expected. I’ve done quarterly reviews from day one employees and have regular dialogue about their development.

You can always gently pull back the reins of ambition but, it’s almost impossible to instil motivation to those that don’t have it.


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Everything nakkers said applies to software dev work as well.

When I was at a larger company, I got siloed into tiny, but extremely complex, components. I never had to look at the system architecture as a whole because I would only interface with a few immediate systems. It was extremely hard to get noticed because everyone is damn smart.

Smaller companies were different. I was involved or lead with designing the system architecture relating to the whole business. Not only is there more job security (no one is gonna fire the guy who wrote everything; we all know the ramp up costs for the replacement would be insane, risk is also very high), it's very easy to find weak links due to the smaller scope of things. However, the pay is generally less. A management position at a smaller company is around the same salary as an "software development engineer." The work is also a lot more chill unless you make things hard for yourself by taking more on lol

Also @george__ , I don't know what problem domain you are in, but software development allows me to find businesses that are very weak in this area. Standing out at workplaces like this is extremely easy because you're surrounded by ppl who ask things like "How do I turn my monitor on?" or "how do I send emails?"

If your skillset allows you exploit a gap within the working generations, do it!

If you're heavily focused on money, go straight to large companies imo.
 
If compensation wasn't a issue I would stay with the smaller companies. There's less bureaucracy, things get done quicker, I feel like less of a cog in a machine and you get to see your superiors a lot.... BUT BUT BUT you can't beat the perks, health care and other benefits of the medium - large firms.

I think the ideal situation is a HUGE parent company that buys out a smaller company. Economy of scale works in your favor here with all the perks and benefits from the bigger firm but you have the cozy smaller workplace atmosphere.

But never ever will I ever again work with startup firms

The 60+ year olds who have pensions + millions in savings + retired happily just amazes me. It can't just be luck but thinking 30+ years into the future and trying to plan for it is so hard
 
GreyGhost said:
Or do your own thing and try to hit the lottery (either consulting at a high rate or develop your own app/software/process and sell that).
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I need to go through an introspection and look into doing my own gig. The bulk of my experience is very niche, but would have to explore options of going solo eventually. Always wanted to try it, but too scared as I don't have that 'vision' or 'drive' that is required to push forward.

Plus a mortgage, kids, wife, and all that comes with it are obviously a consideration if I choose to go without a salary for X amount of time while I move forward. So much easier doing this when one is young and free.
 
mimico_polak said:
I need to go through an introspection and look into doing my own gig. The bulk of my experience is very niche, but would have to explore options of going solo eventually. Always wanted to try it, but too scared as I don't have that 'vision' or 'drive' that is required to push forward.

Plus a mortgage, kids, wife, and all that comes with it are obviously a consideration if I choose to go without a salary for X amount of time while I move forward. So much easier doing this when one is young and free.
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Unfortunately in today's environment, I find wanting a side gig and it's like the norm for me..

My view is Salary + Side Gig = My Wanted Annual Salary

I can adjust my salary ~1-2 times a year but my side gig I can adjust all I want
 
I worked for government for a while, those people don't have a clue how to hire leaders and managers, it was sometimes farcical who they would hire to lead people. If you can't find a management position anywhere else, I recommend you apply for a government job way beyond your abilities :|
 
mimico_polak said:
I need to go through an introspection and look into doing my own gig. The bulk of my experience is very niche, but would have to explore options of going solo eventually. Always wanted to try it, but too scared as I don't have that 'vision' or 'drive' that is required to push forward.

Plus a mortgage, kids, wife, and all that comes with it are obviously a consideration if I choose to go without a salary for X amount of time while I move forward. So much easier doing this when one is young and free.
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I did it for a variety of reasons. No real way to do the app lottery win in my field. Basically trading time for money but I get to decide how many hours and how much. Necessary overhead adds up (insurance, licensing, etc) but you can move some things pre-tax (internet/cell phone/etc). Income is more variable than as an employee but I am very happy with my choice and do not intend to return to a conventional job.
 
george__ said:
Unfortunately in today's environment, I find wanting a side gig and it's like the norm for me..

My view is Salary + Side Gig = My Wanted Annual Salary

I can adjust my salary ~1-2 times a year but my side gig I can adjust all I want
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amen.

2 side gigs were planned this year - THANKS COVID
 
Trials said:
I worked for government for a while, those people don't have a clue how to hire leaders and managers, it was sometimes farcical who they would hire to lead people. If you can't find a management position anywhere else, I recommend you apply for a government job way beyond your abilities :|
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Lol... This^

It's as if people who are unqualified for a job shouldn't be discriminated against in hiring...
 
Trials said:
I worked for government for a while, those people don't have a clue how to hire leaders and managers, it was sometimes farcical who they would hire to lead people. If you can't find a management position anywhere else, I recommend you apply for a government job way beyond your abilities :|
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We even had managers that were assigned a secretary just so they had somebody to manage.
 
The problem with self employment is that you never get down time, there is no quitting time, no weekends and no holiday pay unless you generate it yourself and figure out how to stay in business when you do take a holiday. Plus there will alway be some part of the job that you don't like doing. Self employment is almost an impossibility without hiring others to assist with at least some part of the business. Pension plan; well that is going to be whatever you make of it, traditionally your employer matches your pension contributions but when you work for yourself, that works out to 100% your own problem. Sick pay :sneaky: sure, you get paid if you work and don't get sick.
 
Mad Mike said:
You're trying to set a standard, generally a high one. If you were in a mine or logging camp this may be different, in a software lab you don't make swearing part of your every day vocabulary.

For me, cuss words are a leadership tool. When I use them, my folks go wide eyed -- they know the point I'm making is serious and it's time time to shut up and listen. That's won't work if you toss around cuss words day in day out.

I have the same rule for tossing monitors and trash cans across the room.
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I worked under a supervisor that no one had ever heard swear or yell. Then one day everyone was slacking off and he let go with a loud "This is freaking unbelievable". From the reaction you would have thought he'd pulled out an AK-47 and ran though a clip.
 
crankcall said:
For many, the hardest person to manage and lead is themselves. Self employed is not for everybody.
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Successful small businesses almost always have natural born leaders. If you go out alone without leadership skills, you self employment will be a lifestyle business, meaning it's just a job, you may make a living but you're not changing classes.
 
I owned and operated a business for 14yrs before i sold out, Dealing with the public was not what i wanted to continue to do. Give an inch take a mile
 
ToSlow said:
I owned and operated a business for 14yrs before i sold out, Dealing with the public was not what i wanted to continue to do. Give an inch take a mile
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This is primarily why I haven't gone entrepreneuring; I find it very draining to interact with other people unless we "speak the same lingo." Would need a partner to deal with that before I piss all the customers off lol

Trials said:
I worked for government for a while, those people don't have a clue how to hire leaders and managers, it was sometimes farcical who they would hire to lead people. If you can't find a management position anywhere else, I recommend you apply for a government job way beyond your abilities :|
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This was the running gag at school. We were told bank and government jobs are dead ends for software dev lol

george__ said:
The 60+ year olds who have pensions + millions in savings + retired happily just amazes me. It can't just be luck but thinking 30+ years into the future and trying to plan for it is so hard
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Imo it's 25% planning and 75% winging it lol

I don't know how it works with traditional engineering, but the above is both my life and most software dev projects. I stopped spending so much time planning (still need a vision or loose plan though!!) because **** gets thrown out the window due to xyz unforeseen abc. Guess I'll find out if this works in 30 years though.
 
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油井緋色 said:
...
This was the running gag at school. We were told bank and government jobs are dead ends for software dev lol
...
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Only if you have no clue what patient medical billing is or medical health records storage and access, client assessment software and CHRIS.

I knew one manager, we all joked that his job was to produce one spreadsheet per year. Great work if you can get it.
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