Why is it that...

[BJCooperIT]

The "How to motivate & retain my technical staff" forum has had only a handful of new threads in the last year. The two most popular involved "How To" (41 posts) and "How Not To" (58 posts) advice. They are very old threads that periodically are revived. My question is why?

Is it that so few of us at Tek-Tips are in a position where we manage people?

Is it that most of us are poorly managed or reluctant to speak about it?

Perhaps the well-managed techies do not feel "managed"?

Or should Tek-Tips consider renaming the forum to a title more inviting to non-managers?

Would love to hear your thoughts.

^{Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw}
Consultant/Custom Forms & PL/SQL - Oracle 8.1.7 - Windows 2000

 

[MasterRacker]

This forum was mant to be more of a manager/supervisor area. As to why the traffic is so low, I'm not sure. I couldn't begin to guess how many supervisory types are in the membership. For many reasons connected to the economy, this may not be something people wan't to discuss right now.


Jeff
The future is already here - it's just not widely distributed yet...

 

[packdragon]

I would imagine that very few supervisors or managers would be coming to this forum because Tek-Tips is primarily for finding answers to technical questions -- questions that the techies under them are trying to answer. I only visit this particular forum on a sporadic basis, out of curiosity and as a bit of a time-waster.

And maybe managers are just way too busy to be browsing forums like this. They need to get results for the people above them, so not much time for idle browsing on how to improve your management style.

- Zoe, that's ZOH-EEE, get it right please
- Just a little ol' MCP at Solien Technology
-

http://www.solien.com

 

[MdnghtPgmr]

This is my first post to this forum but I lurk alot. I am currently a non-manager but have been management in the past. You can have it as far as I am concerned!

As far as why this forum does not get more posts. I really couldn't say. I do read almost everything here though.

I am a very poorly managed programmer/analyst in a group of 7 other programmer/analysts. We have four PC and network people as well. Over us (programmers) we have two project leaders, another manager over them, a dept. VP over that manager and a CIO. Is that enough management for you?

*steps down off soap box*
MdnghtPgmr

 

[lullysing]

My guess is the PHBs are simply not technically enclined to go on a technical forum, or simply discouraged by the techies for this simple reason : If there's one thing worse than a total ignorant, it's an ignorant that THINKS he knows something.

Believe me, i know. It's painful when it happens.


_____________________________
when someone asks for your username and password, and much *clickely clickely* is happening in the background, know enough that you should be worried.

 

[rosieb]

Well, I'm here because I found TT through my previous "semi-technical" incarnation. I've been given a managerial post and I would like input on how best to manage my staff.

I've run a support department before, but I built it from scratch and hired to my own specifications. Taking over an established department with its own staff is very different. The department I previously ran was very specialised, my current one is very general, I also have serious turf issues.

I'm in local government, so I have minimal input on pay and conditions.

I have good staff & I want to keep them. But I also recognise that they will want to/should move on.

Overall, my intention is to provide as much training for them as I can screw out of the budget, to devolve as much responsibility as is appropriate, to involve them (in some way) in everything that happens and to ensure that they have input into all new developments. And, most importantly, to protect them from unreasonable demands.

I know I'm bound to fail. Life ain't like that.

But, I see this forum as a place to gain pointers as to what I can practically do.

Rosie

 

[downlow]

I don't regularly participate in this forum because I push my staff to use TT as a way to find answers to questions, learn and develop.

They know my account name and often look up answers I provide to others. I don't feel comfortable discussing them or my situation(s) in any way when there's a distinct chance they'd see the posts.

I would think this forum would be a lot more active, as would the other 'personal' areas, if postings could be anonymous.

downlow (or am I?)

 

[packdragon]

Maybe you could create a second account for yourself that you could use "anonymously". Just don't tell your crew about your second account. When it comes time to post something personal, you have a away.

- Zoe, that's ZOH-EEE, get it right please
- Just a little ol' MCP at Solien Technology
-

http://www.solien.com

 

[Stella740pl]

packdragon,

It appears from downlow's profile that it is his/her second and anonymous account.

 

[downlow]

Yep, it's a pain disabling the 'remember me' and turning it back on though.

This thread is what prompted me to do it...

 

[rosieb]

Good point, I've been thinking about this one for a while. There are certain areas where I couldn't speak freely, just in case, it wouldn't take a genius in my organisation to recognise me. I've been putting off doing anything but I will probably set up something soon, shame I like being me! And "rememmber me" makes life much easier.

Rosie
"Never express yourself more clearly than you think" (Niels Bohr)