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All good points Bill, especially about trust. I have mostly worked as a
lone TW which has often meant TPTB never know where to put me in the org
chart. I've been part of development, marketing, and support groups and
have had countless managers. The most negative experiences have been
when I have been attached to a QA group and reported to the group
manager. This has been because manager has invariably looked down her
nose at the doc. function as a no-brainer secretarial one and can't
understand why the docs aren't perfect on the first rough draft. The
last time that happened I moved on and into what has become my current
situation - one in which my manager trusts me and has confidence in what
I can do. I am hoping that there are no org changes anytime soon.
Ron
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+rhearn=cucbc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+rhearn=cucbc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf
Of Bill Swallow
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 10:01 AM
To: Suzette Leeming
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Non-TW supervisor
> What a coincidence... you must know my manager! She's what I call a
> techno-retard. I find it extremely frustrating to communicate with
her. I
> also find it a bit perplexing that my performance is being evaluated
by
> someone who hasn't got the foggiest idea of my environment, and lacks
an
> appreciation of good documentation. She also lacks a management
background.
> In my recent review, she actually told me "I'm sure there's a lot of
> technical writers out there that are better than you". I never said I
was
> the best, but now I feel like compiling a list of names and phone
numbers of
> techwriters whom I know are better than me. I'm sure they make more
than me
> as well.
Sounds like an interesting situation. I'm sure some clear and targeted
communication would fix a lot of this.
> I don't have the patience (nor do I feel I should) to "train" her.
Others
> in the company are appreciative of my efforts (I go out of my way to
help
> anyone/everyone). She's a thorn in my side that I endeavour to work
around.
> Works so far.
I won't go into the details, but there are many pitfalls to working
around your supervisor.
> My previous manager lacked a tech comm background as well, but was
very
> technically savvy and easy to communicate and work with. I think the
> personality/technical aptitude of the manager is more important than
an tech
> comm background.
I've had many managers who were tech-savvy, techcomm-savvy, and many
who were neither. None of this had anything to do with whether or not
they were a good manager. The key to any good manager/employee
relationship is trust. If you don't have that, no other factor really
matters. The same can be said for *any* professional relationship,
whether it be manager/worker or peer/peer.
--
Bill Swallow
HATT List Owner
WWP-Users List Owner
Senior Member STC, TechValley Chapter http://techcommdood.blogspot.com
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