{"id":172,"date":"2011-08-02T09:56:42","date_gmt":"2011-08-02T09:56:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.benjaminm.net\/?p=172"},"modified":"2011-08-02T09:56:42","modified_gmt":"2011-08-02T09:56:42","slug":"skilledincompetencepushymanager","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techpeoplethrivi-i2tkeoduos.live-website.com\/skilledincompetencepushymanager\/","title":{"rendered":"Ineffective pushback to a pushy manager?"},"content":{"rendered":"
How do you deal with a manager who believes that a software development team needs to go faster and should be pushed<\/a>? I want to review some of the responses to my earlier blog and test the idea that they would create a productive conversation that would lead to effective outcomes.<\/p>\n I got responses from the the earlier post\u2019s comments<\/a>, twitter and the DZone Agile centre<\/a> that were mostly from the team\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n I believe that the responses were intended to be helpful to someone in the manager\u2019s position and raise some important issues. I\u2019ve seen the results of teams accepting a request to \u201cpush harder\u201d and in the majority of cases these have been ineffective, demoralising and created more problems down the track. My intent with the earlier post<\/a> was to encourage a manager with these views to find a way to discuss differences in views in public in order to jointly design productive ways forward.<\/p>\n When handling issues that generate strong points of view it\u2019s important to focus on not just \u2018what is right\u2019 but \u2018how can I communicate this effectively?\u2019<\/p>\n I\u2019ve summarised some of the responses under headings from the three assumption level \u2018rungs\u2019 of the ladder of inference<\/a><\/p>\n Explanations:<\/p>\n Evaluations:<\/p>\n Predictions \/ Proposals for Action<\/p>\n Looking at the comments from a manager\u2019s point of view, they come across as high-level assumptions that are often negative towards the manager.<\/p>\n My assumption is that the responses were in reaction to the perceived unjust negative evaluation implied by a manager even considering \u201chow could I push a team to go faster?\u201d (the headline of the earlier post<\/a>).<\/p>\n This highlights the importance of a manager with these views clarifying what\u2019s behind them, and sharing them with specific concrete examples, to avoid creating defensiveness in the responses and becoming stuck in a point-counter-point argument.<\/p>\n It intrigues me that some of the responses may have created the same impact for a manager that they felt manager\u2019s views had on them.<\/p>\n I realise that many of the responses were not intended to be directly said to the manager, but if they were I believe it would create defensiveness in the manager.<\/p>\n I doubt that the manager would feel listened to or understood.<\/p>\n The views were mainly stated in strong, rather than tentative terms. There was no mention of asking for more detailed observable data from the manager or any inquiries into what was behind the manager\u2019s view.<\/p>\n How would people would avoid these negative views \u201cleaking out\u201d into the conversation through body language or tone of voice? As a manager (share your views in the comments) I could imagine thinking:<\/p>\n \u201cThese responses show people reacting defensively before they\u2019ve listened or understood my view. They are telling me I\u2019m wrong to think this way and I should start by asking how I could be different. It just shows that you can\u2019t talk to a team about these issues\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Some comments advised the manager to take the team\u2019s perspective and ask the team what they might be unintentionally doing to hinder the team and how they as a manager could help. This is useful as other people have a great ability to spot gaps or inconsistencies in our behaviour. Learning how to honestly ask for help from others is a worthwhile practice.<\/p>\n Yet, there was limited evidence in the responses of following that advice and thinking things through from the manager\u2019s perspective and asking how they might be unintentionally contributing or how they could help.<\/p>\n This is an example where people, acting with good intentions, may be skilfully unaware of the fact they’re not following their own advice to others. This relates to the skilled incompetence demonstrated at a recent Agile workshop<\/a><\/p>\n I’d welcome your views in the comments. How productive do you think the responses would be if communicated to a manager? If you wanted to respond more productively to a manager who thought it was necessary to push the team what would you say or do?<\/p>\n Hi, I\u2019m Benjamin<\/a>. I hope that you enjoyed the post. I\u2019m a consultant and coach who helps IT teams and their managers consistently deliver the right software solutions. You can find out more about me<\/a> and my services<\/a>. Contact me<\/a> for a conversation about your situation.<\/p>\n
\nHow does our advice look if others reflect it back to us?<\/p>\nWhat were the responses?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Unjust high-level negative assumptions?<\/h2>\n
What would a manager think if told these views?<\/h2>\n
Skilled unawareness and skilled incompetence?<\/h2>\n