The first sentence tells you what you need to know. The leader assumes the worker is making a “web of lies” to get out of responsibility. This leader is trash. You need to listen to your employees and respond to their needs. If deadlines are being missed there is likely something wrong with the company; whether it be resourcing, time expectation from above or even just working conditions.
malfist|1 year ago
Their advice seems to be that the fault is _always_ with the employee, never with the manager or project planning. When an engineer is discussing blockers, it assumes the engineer is playing at being a victim.
All these suggestions from the author do is turn everything into a "that sounds like a you problem" with their reports.
* You got a blocker? How are you, the IC, going to solve it?
* You don't think the chosen path is the right solution? How are you, the IC, going to convince yourself that the chosen path is the right one.
* Your parent died? How are you, the IC, going to get back to high performance output?
Everything is cold, turn the table, all problems are the fault of the direct report bullshit. It's never more clear than when he constantly recommends telling people what their role requirements are. As if people don't know them.
Makes you think the manager might have some of their self described "perpetual victim" mentality.