I once had a manager complain that I was being "too easy" on my team, because out of 8 teams, they were the only one that weren't charging overtime.
There were also complaints from the other 7 teams that we weren't being co-operative.
And so, I was called into a meeting with the manager, our director, and HR to discuss it.
Why, the manager asked, wasn't my team working overtime when everyone else was?
Because, I explained, my team made all our deadlines. Unlike the other 7 teams, I added.
The director checked, and yes, my team not only wasn't over budget due to overtime charges, we were the only one to make our dates.
Fine, HR said, but other groups are complaining you're not working with them.
Yes we are, I said. What we're not doing is dropping everything at the drop of a hat to work on unscheduled, unplanned work. When other teams ask for something, we ask them for a requirements definition, on paper, and then we're happy to work on it.
The manager's comment that we don't have time to write proper requirements, and if something is wrong, we just have to rework it didn't sit well with the director. Nor did the comment that every other team was ignoring process and basically winging it.
Admitting that other teams were working 18 hour days because they weren't following process was not the mic drop that the manager thought it was. I mean, it was, but not against me or my team.
I once had a manager complain that I was being "too easy" on my team, because out of 8 teams, they were the only one that weren't charging overtime.
There were also complaints from the other 7 teams that we weren't being co-operative.
And so, I was called into a meeting with the manager, our director, and HR to discuss it.
Why, the manager asked, wasn't my team working overtime when everyone else was?
Because, I explained, my team made all our deadlines. Unlike the other 7 teams, I added.
The director checked, and yes, my team not only wasn't over budget due to overtime charges, we were the only one to make our dates.
Fine, HR said, but other groups are complaining you're not working with them.
Yes we are, I said. What we're not doing is dropping everything at the drop of a hat to work on unscheduled, unplanned work. When other teams ask for something, we ask them for a requirements definition, on paper, and then we're happy to work on it.
The manager's comment that we don't have time to write proper requirements, and if something is wrong, we just have to rework it didn't sit well with the director. Nor did the comment that every other team was ignoring process and basically winging it.
Admitting that other teams were working 18 hour days because they weren't following process was not the mic drop that the manager thought it was. I mean, it was, but not against me or my team.
Foolishness…. You at least work 23 hours and where appropriate 28 hours in a day