What do you want?
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Christopher Duncan wrote:
What sort of help do techies really need to get over this introvert hump?
can't speak for anyone else, but at a fundamental level I've never understood how 'normal' people's minds work. I can fake it within limits, but never really knowing what others are thinking/implying has pushed me hard towards introvert/recluse.
-- If you view money as inherently evil, I view it as my duty to assist in making you more virtuous.
That's the sort of thing I can easily cover in a book. Do you think if techniques for understanding these things were outlined that techies would be motivated to try them, or would it be too traumatic for them to interact with others?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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I can duplicate anything I have seen done before or done before. However, coming up with an effective game plan seems hard. I love reading how to books which just glaze over that neat little detail of how. It reminds me of college lectures where the professor, wise in a subject, leaves it as a simple exercise for the student, forgetting the students don't have the same background. (Ie, a Calc I prof giving an extra credit assignment that requires using the Laplace transformation)
Need a C# Consultant? I'm available.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest HemingwayI know just what you mean. In fact, that's why I named my company Practical Strategy Consulting. If stuff doesn't work out on the streets, it's pretty much useless. Do you think if I gave them the step one, two, three approach that more would be motivated to start taking charge of their careers?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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Christopher Duncan wrote:
What's their incentive to do so
I pay them well and am very flexible about working conditions, time off and, I don't nickel and dime them over hours. All I ask is that the job gets done well and on time. I also treat them to lots of lunches as well a weekly afternoon at the bar. It's all expensible you know :laugh: If they have an issue I listen and try to do everything I can to get the job done with and for them.
Christopher Duncan wrote:
and how many of them are aware of this incentive?
100% I am pretty clear when I bring them on that I truly despise sheepishness.
My Blog A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long
Chris Austin wrote:
I pay them well and am very flexible about working conditions, time off and, I don't nickel and dime them over hours.
It sounds like you provide a great environment for people. The fact that you actually care about these things is a real advantage in terms of retention. One thing that might help you get more results (i.e. less :baaaa!:-ishness) is if you started linking some of the perks with actions / attitudes that you'd like to encourage. Right now, everyone probably says, "This is a great place to work." While that's a good start, you'll get more action when people see that they're also recognized and tangibly rewarded for taking the initiative. This doesn't mean your "perks" budget has to get bigger. You could simply take some of the things you were planning to do, and instead of just handing them out, waiting for someone to be an exemplar. When they do, even if the first one isn't truly astounding, you throw a perk at them, make a big deal of it, and say, "That's what I'm talking about." It's often not even the size of the perk - it's making a big deal of it. People work for money. They'll walk on water for recognition, as long as it's sincere and not those crappy little plastic awards the big corporations give out in their phony awards ceremonies. You could simply buy 'em two shots at the bar - "This one's for coming up with the idea, and this one's for making it happen!" Others will begin to see that you treat your innovators like rock stars, and they'll be inspired to compete amongst themselves to see who can be the most brilliant and innovative. When that happens, and you see one guy off in the corner ignoring it all, well, that shows you where you can cut expenses. If you want your people to salivate at the chance to innovative, then condition them like Pavlov's dogs. :-D
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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These all seem like reasonable objectives. What's standing between you and accomplishing them?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
Right now I have all of them but there are worries about layoffs with the merger. I'm hedging my bets because I love it here. Except the Chatty Cathy's. Although the Fran Drescher Laugher is moving to another building. :-D
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That's the sort of thing I can easily cover in a book. Do you think if techniques for understanding these things were outlined that techies would be motivated to try them, or would it be too traumatic for them to interact with others?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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Chris Austin wrote:
I pay them well and am very flexible about working conditions, time off and, I don't nickel and dime them over hours.
It sounds like you provide a great environment for people. The fact that you actually care about these things is a real advantage in terms of retention. One thing that might help you get more results (i.e. less :baaaa!:-ishness) is if you started linking some of the perks with actions / attitudes that you'd like to encourage. Right now, everyone probably says, "This is a great place to work." While that's a good start, you'll get more action when people see that they're also recognized and tangibly rewarded for taking the initiative. This doesn't mean your "perks" budget has to get bigger. You could simply take some of the things you were planning to do, and instead of just handing them out, waiting for someone to be an exemplar. When they do, even if the first one isn't truly astounding, you throw a perk at them, make a big deal of it, and say, "That's what I'm talking about." It's often not even the size of the perk - it's making a big deal of it. People work for money. They'll walk on water for recognition, as long as it's sincere and not those crappy little plastic awards the big corporations give out in their phony awards ceremonies. You could simply buy 'em two shots at the bar - "This one's for coming up with the idea, and this one's for making it happen!" Others will begin to see that you treat your innovators like rock stars, and they'll be inspired to compete amongst themselves to see who can be the most brilliant and innovative. When that happens, and you see one guy off in the corner ignoring it all, well, that shows you where you can cut expenses. If you want your people to salivate at the chance to innovative, then condition them like Pavlov's dogs. :-D
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
Christopher Duncan wrote:
If you want your people to salivate at the chance to innovative, then condition them like Pavlov's dogs.
Thats pretty reasonable and great insight. I've always been better with the carrot than the stick.
Christopher Duncan wrote:
and not those crappy little plastic awards the big corporations give out in their phony awards ceremonies.
LOL! I got one of those once and left it in my cube when I left the company 3 weeks later. The only thing worse IMO are "cake" celebrations.
My Blog A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long
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Dunno, probably depends how well you write the book.
-- If you view money as inherently evil, I view it as my duty to assist in making you more virtuous.
Then clearly, I'm in trouble. :)
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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Christopher Duncan wrote:
If you want your people to salivate at the chance to innovative, then condition them like Pavlov's dogs.
Thats pretty reasonable and great insight. I've always been better with the carrot than the stick.
Christopher Duncan wrote:
and not those crappy little plastic awards the big corporations give out in their phony awards ceremonies.
LOL! I got one of those once and left it in my cube when I left the company 3 weeks later. The only thing worse IMO are "cake" celebrations.
My Blog A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long
Chris Austin wrote:
The only thing worse IMO are "cake" celebrations.
Hey, at least you can have a food fight with it. :-D
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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Right now I have all of them but there are worries about layoffs with the merger. I'm hedging my bets because I love it here. Except the Chatty Cathy's. Although the Fran Drescher Laugher is moving to another building. :-D
leckey wrote:
Except the Chatty Cathy's.
Well, now we know what to get you for Christmas. A caseload of Nerf bats. :)
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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I want an office with a door. I am tired of the cubicle life. I need the reduced interruptions that an office provides. I would also appreciate the respect that it brings.
A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer. - Mitch Hedberg
Tom Welch wrote:
I want an office with a door.
Amen. I work in a "remote" office and all the developers work in a cubicle farm. However, all the developers at our main office have individual offices. On our company's recruiting page it talks of how the developers are isolated so they can concentrate on their work. Yeah right. I'm getting real tired of the guy across the aisle from me. He seems to come down with a case of Turretts syndrome when his code doesn't work (which is almost daily).
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Just as soon as I can get the damned Delorean to start again. :)
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
Shucks, and here I am all out of flux capacitors to give you. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] Donate to help Conquer Cancer[^]
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leckey wrote:
Except the Chatty Cathy's.
Well, now we know what to get you for Christmas. A caseload of Nerf bats. :)
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
I've worked here over a year. A guy from my group was talking to one of the Chatty Cathy's (who sits a whole 2 cubicles from me) and he said, 'send it to Leckey' (although he used my first name.' CC said, "Leckey who?" Am I freaking invisible?
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I want an office with a door. I am tired of the cubicle life. I need the reduced interruptions that an office provides. I would also appreciate the respect that it brings.
A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer. - Mitch Hedberg
Tom Welch wrote:
I want an office with a door.
Yep. The first time I had one it was as if my world had suddenly changed. The next time you are job hunting make working conditions a priority over pay. I did just that 4.5 years ago and it was 100% worth it.
My Blog A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long
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I know just what you mean. In fact, that's why I named my company Practical Strategy Consulting. If stuff doesn't work out on the streets, it's pretty much useless. Do you think if I gave them the step one, two, three approach that more would be motivated to start taking charge of their careers?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
The problem with the step approach is you miss steps. I really don't know what would be the best chapter by chapter approach, probably why I am not published.
Need a C# Consultant? I'm available.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway -
I've worked here over a year. A guy from my group was talking to one of the Chatty Cathy's (who sits a whole 2 cubicles from me) and he said, 'send it to Leckey' (although he used my first name.' CC said, "Leckey who?" Am I freaking invisible?
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Christopher Duncan wrote:
If you want your people to salivate at the chance to innovative, then condition them like Pavlov's dogs.
Thats pretty reasonable and great insight. I've always been better with the carrot than the stick.
Christopher Duncan wrote:
and not those crappy little plastic awards the big corporations give out in their phony awards ceremonies.
LOL! I got one of those once and left it in my cube when I left the company 3 weeks later. The only thing worse IMO are "cake" celebrations.
My Blog A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long
Chris Austin wrote:
LOL! I got one of those once and left it in my cube when I left the company 3 weeks later.
The one I got had a $25 gift certificate which is the only thing that I ever pinned to my cubicle wall. :laugh:
This blanket smells like ham
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That's the sort of thing I can easily cover in a book. Do you think if techniques for understanding these things were outlined that techies would be motivated to try them, or would it be too traumatic for them to interact with others?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
Christopher Duncan wrote:
techniques for understanding these things were outlined that techies would be motivated to try them
It seems to me that motivation comes from within. If a person is motivated, and now armed with these techniques from your book, yes the person will try them. An unmotivated person who reads the same book, not so much. Of course there are often times outside factors driving one's motivation. But reading a book on career development, no matter how good it is, just doesn't seem like one to me. So to actually answer your question, probably. ;) Those who find it "too traumatic," well there's likely no helping them. BDF
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That certainly sounds like a modest and achievable goal. What's standing in the way of you getting it?
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
I have requested one, but the main thing in the way is corporate politics. Senior and middle management are given offices. Everyone else goes without. Other than that, they would have to build more office space. And that's doable. They are already building more offices for new management positions.
A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer. - Mitch Hedberg
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Other than the lazy part, you'd be surprised by how little all the rest has to do with your ability to make more money.
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
That lazy part's a real doozy though. Why else would i spend time thinking up all the other excuses instead of doing something useful? :->
every night, i kneel at the foot of my bed and thank the Great Overseeing Politicians for protecting my freedoms by reducing their number, as if they were deer in a state park. -- Chris Losinger, Online Poker Players?
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Shucks, and here I am all out of flux capacitors to give you. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] Donate to help Conquer Cancer[^]
How to tell your a Nerd 101 Lesson 1: talk about lending flux capacitors to other people :-D
"There are three sides to every story. Yours, mine and the truth" ~ unknown