Comments on: Tip: Never Manage anyone who you can’t do his job!

By: Development and Integrity Management by Eli Lopian » Presentation at the Tel Aviv Entrepreneurs Meetup Group

Tue, 05 May 2009 06:26:33 +0000

[...] I gave a short presentation to the Tel Aviv Entrepreneurs Meetup Group. It was great fun. I wanted to share one tip: To build a great team you cannot bring in someone who can do things that you can’t. This lead to many passionate people saying exactly the opposite. “You must hire people who are better then you” [...]

By: Development and Integrity Management by Eli Lopian » How to manage agile (self managing) teams

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:14:46 +0000

[...] Ahhhhhh! At one time, this sounded so true. I felt that my managers where hindered me from doing my work, just get out of my way. Now I couldn’t disagree more. [...]

By: Development and Integrity Management by Eli Lopian » The journey from an Inventor to a CEO

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:20:36 +0000

[...] I had to learn how to do this correctly. I had to do the sales myself, I spent a month doing all of the sales and learning about it, learning about what works and what doesn’t. Only after I understood what actions are required to make the sale, did I look for a salesman. Now that I knew exactly what was needed to be done, I could get the right person for the job. With that person, the knowledge of the sales process and Integrity, I have the right tools to build the management, and create an amazing company. Bookmark at: [...]

By: Chris Holmes

Chris Holmes — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:16:15 +0000

It’s an interesting argument. When I think about it, all the good managers I’ve had were people who knew how to do my job. All the bad managers I’ve had did not know how to do my job.

So, while it’s no proof, my own anecdotal evidence suggests Eli is on to something.

By: Eli Lopian

Eli Lopian — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:18:48 +0000

Morgan,
I used to think so too, but at the end a manager that cannot to the job himself will never be a good manager.

There is a reason that Software Managers get paid more then Store Managers. If there was a common ‘Zen’ all store managers would become software managers.

There are so many things that fail when you recruit someone who can do something that you cannot.
1. How do you recruit good developer?
2. How do you motivate your developers?
3. How do you help them when there is a dilemma that needs your attention?
4. How do you know if they are sloppy or professional?
5. How do you challenge your developers and help them grow?

You have to discover how to do it yourself before delegating to others.

I have been on both sides. I have managed and been ‘managed’ in the past by people who can’t do my job. For most times, being managed by someone like that, is frustrating. The PHB just gave stupid advice and thought of himself as really clever. But never really managed.

Even in Zen (http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/4790.html) Leadership Starts with Self-Discovery

The question is, as a manager, why don’t you just learn how to do it? What is stopping you? Could it be that you have to learn, grow and leave you comfort zone? If so, then as Nike says: Just Do It.

By: Morgan Cheng

Morgan Cheng — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:06:04 +0000

I cannot agree with you on this point. I beheld a lot of managers who cannot do his employees’ jobs but also succeed in management.

There is something, we can call it Zen, that is common to any kind of jobs. A manager without much programming background can give advices to a programmer based on his experience in other area.