TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Managers Not in the Biz From:Robert Plamondon <robert -at- PLAMONDON -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 2 Mar 1995 07:14:03 PST
What *I* did when I had a non-writer manager was take over the Pubs
Department. I indicated great interest in management, signed myself
up for management and leadership seminars, and assumed authority
by the simple expedient of acting like I knew what to do, fixing any
problem I could, and schlepping any problem I needed help with to
other managers.
At the time, my manager was a marketeer. Most marketeers don't like
dealing with Tech Pubs, and will relinquish decision-making to anyone.
I had to wait for the V.P. of Marketing to get the boot before I
was made an official manager, but I expanded my role quite a bit,
informally, before that. It helped, too -- simply doing the right
thing, rather than asking your manager what to do, is more fun and
more effective.