How to deal with an incompetent boss?

[warcleric]

Well my boss has next to 0 technical ability, but demands that everything be done his way, we could really make him look good because we have some great staff here, but he will not listen to any suggestions and no matter how solid your reasoning is, he always goes against your ideas. I guess I am at a loss here, I have been able to talk people into running towards people that were shooting at them, but cannot seem to get anywhere with this guy.

 

[Cable God]

hehehe, I know how ya feel man. Windogg has some good pointers if he stumbles into this thread

 

[Crimson]

Might be time to start looking for another job.. or become good friends with HIS boss, and get him fired.. heh.. I had manager and a director that were just complete pricks in my department.. I became really good friends with one of the VP's of the company, and explained why these guys were bad for the company.. He ended up reassigning them to non-manager positions..

 

[Tauren]

I say do it his way. Eventually someone will notice and then he only has himself to blame. If you go against him then he can say it was your fault that things failed.

 

[kranky]

With a guy like that, you have to make him think he thought of the idea you want to implement.

Example: You want to do X. You tell him, "Boy, I wish we could do X, but we don't have time. It would accomplish (list good things), and it would really make us look good. But we don't have time and it might be too hard anyway."

A week later, he might come over and say "Do X!" once he decides it was his idea.

 

[gittyup]

Make suggestions to him that are the exact opposite of the way you would do them. Maybe he will then choose the best way without even knowing it. I hate it when technically challenged people are project mamangers of technical projects. I have my share of those around my place of business. If they only knew how stupid they sounded when trying to talk technically. I feel for you....

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

wouldn't hurt to start documenting some of this...make sure you keep this documentation secure though.

good luck

 

[warcleric]

gittyup: heh the real problem is he doesnt think he is technically challenged, quite the opposite, he thinks he is a tech wiz, a sample of the advice given to us "Remove all the black colored desktops, black takes up more memory"

 

[LastKnight]

If it were me, I'd have to start looking for another job. Life's too short and the market for IT folk is way too good to let something like this concern you. My advice is to spend a good bit of time on a job search, and find something you're really going to like.

That reminds me, it's time to take one of my breaks and head for the game room. g/l warcleric

 

[Cable God]

hehe. still waiting on Windogg's reply

 

[Windogg]

Doh!!! Those are the worst. Thank god my boss is very hands off and lets me use my judgement. A few users here on the otherhand, whoa.....

Some tricks that work:

The Wild Good Chase AKA "ORAM": Try to get them to occupy their time but making their non-existant knowledge seem "outdated". Within earshot, talk about "Optical Random Access Memory" and how it's a "Cost effective solution" and "revolutionary". Also toss in real terms that have sketchy info like "Quad Data Rate Bus", "Serial access", and "Short wavelength UV manufacturing" etc... Then say, "Well, I guess us techs know more than the common user ehhh? Those people and that DDR stuff.... obsolete beyond words. So what do yo think?" Not wanting to feel dumb, they'll slink away to do more research. It usually hold them at bay for a few weeks.

Fire With Fire: He wants to talk tech? Talk business. Nothing annoys the hell out of people more than some idiot thinking they can do your job better (Like I have to tell you that). Start hanging around and talk nonsense about his area of experties. Track him down whenever possible with really dumb and obvious things. "Sayyyy.... did you know that you have to depreciate capital assets???", "Did you read the about how corporate has a new budget for marking this year?", "Management? Yep, us managers have it tough. I mean back when I worked at the McDonalds, it was no walk in the park. Yep, us management people are so misunderstoof". Soon they'll back off lest you start a converstion that bores them to death. Soon they just tell you what they need done and get the hell out of there before you talk their ears off.

Of course these are a couple of things I use to deal with users. I have not tried them on someone higher up yet. Use with caution.

Windogg

 

[warcleric]

Wel I am possessive dammit, it is my network and I dont want someone else coming in and screwing it up, that is why I am not real inclined to leave. That and there are some really good looking women working here

 

[Missus]

Tie him/her to a chair and stick them in the corner... then flick cold ice water on them til they agree to resign..

 

[fdiskboy]

I like Missus' idea.

It should work after a few hours...

 

[madthumbs]

Either;

Get a book; "How to Win freinds and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, or "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R.Covey. While you may display technical wizardry, you may lack in the ability to sell your ideas.

OR

Quit; Bail out of a Sinking Ship. If you are that good, you can find a better deal elsewhere.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Madthumbs has a great idea with that How to Win Friends and Influence People book. Though Carnagie did not intend this when he wrote the book, it can easily be turned for use as Machiavellian methods.

Zenmervolt

 

[Adul]

<< gittyup: heh the real problem is he doesnt think he is technically challenged, quite the opposite, he thinks he is a tech wiz, a sample of the advice given to us &quot;Remove all the black colored desktops, black takes up more memory&quot; >>





Sounds like a dilbert comic strip.,