Should your manager know how to do your job?

What do you guys think? I don't know what it is but a lot of my managers are boomers. When they became Managers, it seemed they stopped there and just wants to "Manage". Which is kind of annoying. I always feel like unless you're a C-suite person or a "Director", you should at least not be out of touch with the work that your team does.

I've only had one manager who is a millennial of course, who managed me and bossed me around. However, he does the job 100x better than I can. I give him all respect for that although his attitude stinks. Lol.

I got lucky with my first legit job. Had a lovely manager who had amazing work ethic and zero ego. When I became manager there I carried that same mentality. If the trash needs to be taken out both of us will do it together and get garbage juice on our legs.

Posted by LadyNeptune

I got lucky with my first legit job. Had a lovely manager who had amazing work ethic and zero ego. When I became manager there I carried that same mentality. If the trash needs to be taken out both of us will do it together and get garbage juice on our legs.

It's a rare thing to meet someone with excellent work ethic. I've been working for many years and can only count with one hand the number of great managers I've had.

Posted by FUCKTHISACCOUNTTOO

empathy and finish early thats all is matters

That very rarely happens. I feel like a lot of my ex managers actually make people do so much work so they can slack off themselves.

Posted by GenerousBalance

Not necessarily but they must have an eye for the right person for the job

Curious about this. How would they have the eye for the right person if they don't understand the job themselves and what it takes to be successful in the role? (this is just from my experience with a manager I had)

Posted by Bumboklaat

Depends on the job, but generally, yes.

Corporate jobs usually have a few people who can pull the slack, it usually works that way.

But in smaller companies when there are absences or people quit ,that's where I come in and work, I usually observe things (Virgo rising) and learn. 2/3 times effort and common sense prevail.

I agree that the size of the company matters as well. Worked for 2 listed businesses that have 1000 plus employees across the globe and because they have resources, Managers can easily delegate. I worked at 2 start ups and that is very difficult to do. Everyone really needs to pull their weight, management or not.

Posted by ImperfectStorm

I absolutely do think they should. I’ve had bosses who couldn’t do my job but would try to increase my workload. I’ve spoke up about it and asked them to shadow me for a day before they try to tell me what I can or can’t handle. (As far as additional work) If you’ve never done the job yourself it’s impossible to know what another person can handle, or how much is too much.. etc

I agree with this and it seem to be a recurring issue in some workplaces I worked at. They dump tasks on people and doesn't know the struggles in accomplishing whatever they dumped. Also, when asked how to resolve challenges, because they are so out of touch on the real work, they don't give sound advise.

Yes

Depends on the line of work. For example: a hotel manager doesn't need to know how to cook or clean - to manage the staff from those departments. On the other hand - if the job in question requires high proficiency (programing, engineering, research, etc) - the manager should be able to do your job better. On the other hand, there's also such thing as - "nepotism, self-importance, psychopathy (to name a few)" so yeah... good & legit managers are not a given.

Posted by GenerousBalance

Posted by BaeMaxx

Posted by GenerousBalance

Not necessarily but they must have an eye for the right person for the job

Curious about this. How would they have the eye for the right person if they don't understand the job themselves and what it takes to be successful in the role? (this is just from my experience with a manager I had)

You just know when you interview people by asking the right questions, the things people can reveal just if you make them a little comfortable, I'm not saying the manager can be clueless but they don't need information about the job but rather about the employee.

click to expand

How about when it comes to the challenge sof the job? How are they able to provide a sound advise or good strategies if they don't know what to do as well?

Posted by neves

Depends on the line of work. For example: a hotel manager doesn't need to know how to cook or clean - to manage the staff from those departments. On the other hand - if the job in question requires high proficiency (programing, engineering, research, etc) - the manager should be able to do your job better. On the other hand, there's also such thing as - "nepotism, self-importance, psychopathy (to name a few)" so yeah... good & legit managers are not a given.

Hotel Manager needs to know good customer service though and everyone operates with having good customer service in mind. That will set the standard, right?

Good legit managers definitely not a given in some jobs.

Posted by Bumboklaat

Posted by BaeMaxx

Posted by Bumboklaat

Depends on the job, but generally, yes.

Corporate jobs usually have a few people who can pull the slack, it usually works that way.

But in smaller companies when there are absences or people quit ,that's where I come in and work, I usually observe things (Virgo rising) and learn. 2/3 times effort and common sense prevail.

I agree that the size of the company matters as well. Worked for 2 listed businesses that have 1000 plus employees across the globe and because they have resources, Managers can easily delegate. I worked at 2 start ups and that is very difficult to do. Everyone really needs to pull their weight, management or not.

They both have their advantages as well. When I was starting and younger, corporation was better cause of the accessibility and you learn to hate being at the entry level, you learn to be competent and work under pressure. Now I prefer smaller, less BS, more efficient and management duties can be shared at times cause you have the actual hands on knowledge and know realistic time frames. Corporate always has a scapegoat so upper management is usually the last to go but they hardly ever learn.

I actually like to work and be productive, not just get paid for nothing. People that mooch off public assistance and bosses that earn by doing the least have a lot in common.

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I have to agree with you on this. I do t know if it has anything to do with my 6th house and virgo in my chart but I actually hate not doing much and delegating. Which was mostly the culture in big corporates. I pretty much enjoy the start up and scale up environments where I can do enough to get things going for the team and even mentor new people. I currently report to a boss who enjoys delegating. On slack, via email and during calls. And it makes me wonder sometimes because we are a mid sized org. And he came from a big company. So somehow, that's a mismatch.

Posted by twinkletwinklebish

Posted by neves

Depends on the line of work. For example: a hotel manager doesn't need to know how to cook or clean - to manage the staff from those departments. On the other hand - if the job in question requires high proficiency (programing, engineering, research, etc) - the manager should be able to do your job better. On the other hand, there's also such thing as - "nepotism, self-importance, psychopathy (to name a few)" so yeah... good & legit managers are not a given.

They need to know what your role is precisely and what you need to perform that role well. They don’t need to be able to perform it. There is a difference.

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I agree that they need to know what you need to perform that role well. One challenge I often find with managers who simply manage is that they delegate tasks without actually knowing how it can be executed well. So if the staff has some challenges, they are likely to blame than suggest a solution that could work. In the end, the staff suffers.

No, I've never really had a manager that could do my job. I need my manager to manage the bullshit and keep it away from me. I need my manager to put out fires, and do all the political ass kissing to make us look good. I need my manager to prioritize my departments needs, so I know how to do my job effectively. I need my manager plan a vision, and plot a path so I can focus on getting us there.

I have a great partnership with my manager, because of that, I'm able to balance my life and stay focus on what I should be focused on. I don't need a manager that can do my job, just one that can suport me and manage.

Yes. One of the roles of a manager is to coach employees for development and growth. You can't do that if you don't even know how to do their job. Where would you base your feedback and performance goals on?

Yes preferably. At the least, you need to understand it.

Posted by BaeMaxx

What do you guys think? I don't know what it is but a lot of my managers are boomers. When they became Managers, it seemed they stopped there and just wants to "Manage". Which is kind of annoying. I always feel like unless you're a C-suite person or a "Director", you should at least not be out of touch with the work that your team does.

I've only had one manager who is a millennial of course, who managed me and bossed me around. However, he does the job 100x better than I can. I give him all respect for that although his attitude stinks. Lol.

Oh God yes. How do you expect to manage something properly you do not understand. There are so many stories on Reddit of new bosses costing companies many times what they tired to save. As well as driving away linchpin employees over ego Tripps. Costing the companies butt tons to replace and train later🤣

I've got my own stories of "I told you so"😏



Every time there is a higher management leadship change, they try to change shit in order to maximize profits or some new gimmick for sales, justify thier existence?

In my experience they change something and screw up the system that's working. As for gimmicks, Rewards programs doing things that alienate your base customers ( your bread and butter) to try to appeal to new ones with a over complicated system in over to save short term costs...will cost you long term. Especially when new customers don't want to deal with it either.

I think silent G's make the best managers and bosses. They are chill and laid back much like I am who don't go looking over your shoulder and follow you around bossing you. Sad a lot of silent G's are dead and gone now. Only a hand few of them still left. But they retired. Ironically I'm actually cool with a silent g and he's a fellow geminian. I just can't see me working for a millennial. That's not gonna never happen. Working in a business for yourself is the best thing since white bread.

There are also the cursed managers who cause problems just so that they have something to "solve" (other people to solve, and they can take credit for), therefore they show they are "essential" and needed ("where would you guys be without me?? I have to do everything around here") yet doesn't understand /care about the workload they create for YOU, the one who actually has to clean up after their ass 🙄

No. They don't need to know all the details but the bigger picture. A CEO won't know how to do all his/hers employee's job.

Posted by twinkletwinklebish

How can you have expectations and evaluations without knowing what needs to be done? They would be a poor manager if they don’t know how to do your job.

This is what I've been thinking about exactly.

Posted by PezRojoPescadoAzul

Managers should know how to shut the fuck up and let their employees do their job and not micro-manage. "Hey let me waste your time explaining how to do shit you already know how to do, and do it exactly this way even though it doesn't matter how it gets done as long as it's done." No siree Bob! 😀 That's not my job! 😃

Hahahha! Which reminds me. My Manager now is like this. Only caveat is he also doesn't know how to do the job. It's all talk.

Posted by Mutya

Yes. One of the roles of a manager is to coach employees for development and growth. You can't do that if you don't even know how to do their job. Where would you base your feedback and performance goals on?

I know. And this is exactly why I asked this. For example, in my team, my manager would dump work on people (except me. Fortunately. As my boss is actually his boss so he's just my manager on paper) and would expect it to be done ASAP. He would also expect people to close deals. During the performance review sessions, he gave the libra a negative feedback specifically about not being able to close deals. Funny thing is, when libra joined last year, she closed more deals than our manager has and he's been in the business for 6 mos now. Needless to say, libra thinks he's talking shit.

All of us know how to make our own presentations. From my level to the highest level in the company. We're not that big after all. Now, this manager didn't even bother to learn how to do his own presentation. Ended up hiring one of my friends and basically had around 25 emails back and forth to say what's wrong with the presentation. A lot are minor stuff that he should be able to edit himself. But nope. I think he feels he's too high up the ladder to make edits on his own. But the feedback he gave for everything was the most annoying bit. In my head... I'm like, how could you— Lol

Posted by PuzzlePieces

Yes preferably. At the least, you need to understand it.

Exactly.

Posted by Lostthoughts

Posted by BaeMaxx

What do you guys think? I don't know what it is but a lot of my managers are boomers. When they became Managers, it seemed they stopped there and just wants to "Manage". Which is kind of annoying. I always feel like unless you're a C-suite person or a "Director", you should at least not be out of touch with the work that your team does.

I've only had one manager who is a millennial of course, who managed me and bossed me around. However, he does the job 100x better than I can. I give him all respect for that although his attitude stinks. Lol.

Oh God yes. How do you expect to manage something properly you do not understand. There are so many stories on Reddit of new bosses costing companies many times what they tired to save. As well as driving away linchpin employees over ego Tripps. Costing the companies butt tons to replace and train later🤣

I've got my own stories of "I told you so"😏



Every time there is a higher management leadship change, they try to change shit in order to maximize profits or some new gimmick for sales, justify thier existence?

In my experience they change something and screw up the system that's working. As for gimmicks, Rewards programs doing things that alienate your base customers ( your bread and butter) to try to appeal to new ones with a over complicated system in over to save short term costs...will cost you long term. Especially when new customers don't want to deal with it either.

click to expand

This is what's going on in my team now 😆 they hired the new manager 6 mos ago. And he's trying to fix the process that's not even broken in the first place just so he can say he's doing something. Truth be told, he also came from a different space than all of us and in general, among the team, he's the weakest link as well as he's not even a deal closer. But the way he gives people feedback about their work is very pretentious. Like he knows the job but numbers and skills don't lie. He actually doesn't know anything. Now my team suffers.

New managers are dumb

They want to come in and make changes without knowing the work

My suggestion is learn it first for six months then try to improve it.

Posted by GenerousBalance

Posted by BaeMaxx

Posted by GenerousBalance

Posted by BaeMaxx

Posted by GenerousBalance

Not necessarily but they must have an eye for the right person for the job

Curious about this. How would they have the eye for the right person if they don't understand the job themselves and what it takes to be successful in the role? (this is just from my experience with a manager I had)

You just know when you interview people by asking the right questions, the things people can reveal just if you make them a little comfortable, I'm not saying the manager can be clueless but they don't need information about the job but rather about the employee.

How about when it comes to the challenge sof the job? How are they able to provide a sound advise or good strategies if they don't know what to do as well?

Well they are required to provide you with the necessary training to help you grow in the company, or at least give access to anything that can help you with that, I think that's the Manager's job, again I'm not saying it's ok for the manager to not know how to do the job of his/her subordinates but certain jobs are very complicated for instance IT technician you expect the manager to know how to fix a computer? Secretary sure! Even accounting So depends the job we're talking about here, and different departments as well, but I do believe managers are supposed to guide you not interfere with your job.

I used to work for an import export agency and the manager was a really cool ambitious guy, he always encouraged us, and I could see the results of that on the other assistant hired before me, he helped her grow so much that she could do everything better than him he even started taking her to different conferences around the world, and he never interfered and never had an ego about that he was actually very proud of her. That's what I call a REAL BOSS.

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I agree some jobs are more complex for sure! And that's why they hire experts in it and the manager can then manage the bigger picture. But I'm thinking more jobs like say Sales. And then reporting to a manager who can't close deals because in general he's actually just not good at it. Is that OK? Or being a global manager of something and yet not understanding the challenges of every region before implementing changes.

Posted by pouch42

There are also the cursed managers who cause problems just so that they have something to "solve" (other people to solve, and they can take credit for), therefore they show they are "essential" and needed ("where would you guys be without me?? I have to do everything around here") yet doesn't understand /care about the workload they create for YOU, the one who actually has to clean up after their ass 🙄

Hahahha. This is my Manager now. He created an issue recently. Made our client panic just so he can put out the fire and then throw my other coworker under the bus. Unnecessary if you ask me.

Posted by Timone

No. They don't need to know all the details but the bigger picture. A CEO won't know how to do all his/hers employee's job.

I did say C-suite will be very different. But I think at line management level, they should at least know something.

Posted by Truemara

New managers are dumb

They want to come in and make changes without knowing the work

My suggestion is learn it first for six months then try to improve it.

This. Omg. Exactly my thoughts. And exactly the issue in my workplace.

Posted by BaeMaxx

Posted by Lostthoughts

Posted by BaeMaxx

What do you guys think? I don't know what it is but a lot of my managers are boomers. When they became Managers, it seemed they stopped there and just wants to "Manage". Which is kind of annoying. I always feel like unless you're a C-suite person or a "Director", you should at least not be out of touch with the work that your team does.

I've only had one manager who is a millennial of course, who managed me and bossed me around. However, he does the job 100x better than I can. I give him all respect for that although his attitude stinks. Lol.

Oh God yes. How do you expect to manage something properly you do not understand. There are so many stories on Reddit of new bosses costing companies many times what they tired to save. As well as driving away linchpin employees over ego Tripps. Costing the companies butt tons to replace and train later🤣

I've got my own stories of "I told you so"😏



Every time there is a higher management leadship change, they try to change shit in order to maximize profits or some new gimmick for sales, justify thier existence?

In my experience they change something and screw up the system that's working. As for gimmicks, Rewards programs doing things that alienate your base customers ( your bread and butter) to try to appeal to new ones with a over complicated system in over to save short term costs...will cost you long term. Especially when new customers don't want to deal with it either.

This is what's going on in my team now 😆 they hired the new manager 6 mos ago. And he's trying to fix the process that's not even broken in the first place just so he can say he's doing something. Truth be told, he also came from a different space than all of us and in general, among the team, he's the weakest link as well as he's not even a deal closer. But the way he gives people feedback about their work is very pretentious. Like he knows the job but numbers and skills don't lie. He actually doesn't know anything. Now my team suffers.

click to expand

A manager who is administrative needs a subordinate/right hand man( middle manager) who can bridge the gap.

A manager who is in direct contact and working with subordinates( middle manager) needs to know the job.

The fix for mismatches is once again someone bridging the gap and even training the new boss on what that department does, how, and why. Literally train them. It's a touché situation. Great managers understand this.

Yes, generally a manager should be able to do the job below them proficiently just in case. Sure, as management, now they have bigger issues to deal with daily. But that means if they are doing their job, they shouldn’t be hovering and nitpicking your work. You can tell the difference between managers who actually do work and earned the title, and those who don’t and just ride the title. I’m not talking CEOs and owners but actual managers who manage other people in their daily job description.

Posted by BaeMaxx

Posted by Timone

No. They don't need to know all the details but the bigger picture. A CEO won't know how to do all his/hers employee's job.

I did say C-suite will be very different. But I think at line management level, they should at least know something.

click to expand

Opps missed that part. 😅