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Doing Everyone Else's Job

215 points · 115 comments · luu

  1. maerF0x0 · · focus · HN ↗
    > and most managers fail to punish at least some of these slow learners of theirs

    False, they punish by not crediting that work as work.

    Glue work, keeping things tidy, dealing with that annoyance that everyone else has been able to get away with suffering through (and ignoring), all of this will be worth approximately 0 at performance review time because your time is a zerosum game that is traded off with highly visible, political, and otherwise rewardable work.

    It's been my experience that in larger companies you generally have to play in the framework.(I'd roughly draw the line at 1000+ employees), at quite small companies (or as a self employed / entrepreneur, roughly <200 employees) you should follow the path of highest EROI on your efforts regardless of who's job it is. In the gap you have to read the culture and management.

    1. esafak · · focus · HN ↗
      If the company does not recognize its importance just LET THE DAMN THING FAIL. That is how management will pay proper attention to it.
      1. ozim · · focus · HN ↗
        I like getting paid each month and not having to look for job. Letting it fail is directly opposing my need to pay mortgage.
        1. esafak · · focus · HN ↗
          Presumably your official duty is not to make sure that the company does not fail, but something more circumscribed. Work on your responsibilities, and if your manager is nagging you to fix something that isn't that, have him make it official so you get recognized for it. If it should not be your job, push back.
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