GeekMBA360: Beat Recession. Grow Career. Build Wealth. - Latest Comments in The first time I cried at work

Re: The first time I cried at work

Tad — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:17:08 -0000

I really enjoy your posts and writing style keep up the good work.

Re: The first time I cried at work

victor_garcia — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:17:19 -0000

Awesome!

Re: The first time I cried at work

GeekMBA360 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:36:51 -0000

Thanks for your questions, Techdude!

#1: It's tough. Assuming you work for a big company, you gonna to play the political angle. Does any of your team members/managers have good relationship with the senior management team who approve the budget? Work hard from the relationship angle if you can.

#2: Since you've a newer team, you need to establish credibility. Is it possible for you to build a prototype to show your ability to execute? You need to be able to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. I'd be aggressive in looking for opportunity to show your team's ability to execute.

#3: how does the internal funding process work? In some companies I was part of, I had to make a formal presentation. Make sure you make a killer presentation.

Regarding transitioning from software development to program manager, the key is to do a really good job, and make yourself indispendable to your manager. Then, tell him that you want to be a PM; otherwise, you'd leave. The more valuable you're, the more options you've to change the roles. Tell your manager that you'd take on a PM role while continue to do your dev work for a while.

Once you've run a few projects, transfer to a different group for a PM-only role, get an external job, or tell your manager that you want to do PM full-time.

Re: The first time I cried at work

techdude — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:10:06 -0000

Sure. I would be interested in your opinion on the following challenges:

1) Development groups vying for project $$$s from (internal) management. How to make a case for your team especially if its newer but may have a greater knowledge of the domain.

2) Making a career-track change. Ex: Going from software developer to program manager. How to convince your manager to let you make the change.

Re: The first time I cried at work

GeekMBA360 — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:38:01 -0000

Thanks, techdude. If there is any specific challenges/issues you want me to cover, please let me know. I'm also looking for good ideas to blog! :-)

Re: The first time I cried at work

techdude — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:53:27 -0000

This article, and your over blog as overall, is great. I just started my career and am already witnessing the things you have talked about here. Very useful.

Re: The first time I cried at work

GeekMBA360 — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:33:09 -0000

Thanks for your comments.

Yeah, at times, it really makes me want to "kill" someone like Karen. But, then, I'd be put in jail. :-) I think when we get really angry (even for the right reason), we're really hurting ourselves, not the offending parties. It's hard to swallow, but I learned to manage the emotion. :-)

thanks again for your comment.

Re: The first time I cried at work

Janet Palma — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:36:29 -0000

I walked in on the boss making out with a temp and was fired for it.

Re: The first time I cried at work

Janet Palma — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:35:50 -0000

Andrew,
I like your attitude and your blog, although if I had to work with someone like Karen, she would be dead by now...:) What a jerk - woman or not!

Janet

Re: The first time I cried at work

Bing — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:52:35 -0000

A good story. I once walked into a make-out session between a senior executive and the company's marketing diva. That was pretty grouse.

But your story has a darker implication - that Karen lady seemed to be a very manipulating person. And your boss was probably smitten. Too bad that was your coming-to-age moment :)

There was a movie (Disclosure) in which Demi Moore played a lover-turned-boss who sued her former beau for sexual harassment after they broke up. I think she said something like "Sex is not about sex. It is about power."

I guess the marketing and sales department, where professional is personal, offers a leveled playing field for the "fairer gender".

"Not that there is anything wrong with it."
--Jerry & George, the Seinfeld.