In fact, I think that it is not at all uncommon that the employees here are more competent than their managers. It's frustrating, of course, but the question is how to deal with it? By not showing that you are more competent and thus avoiding trouble? That's certainly one way but not exactly the one you'd want in a good work environment.
Will it become increasingly common that employees are more capable than their superiors - I think it will because promotions have been mainly reduced to playing games in the workplace instead of focusing on work, effort and knowledge.
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I wouldn’t say I’m more competent than my manager in general, probably less. But do they understand my specific technical minutiae as well as I do? Definitely not. All I really ask is that all the people in my ranking session be able to differentiate me from the engineers I’m being ranked against, and not just rely on some BS presentation of “highlights”. We definitely fall down here, big time. We should be ranked on how well we do our core job (not highlights or made up goals), and to do that the people two and three levels above you need to be masters in your competency.
The other problem is that people two and three levels above you are there in large part because they’ve been in the company forever, and not necessarily because they’re technical rock stars. That’s not EM specific, just a fact of life in corporate environments.
Pretty surprising that people on here don’t realize that the skill set for a good manager is different than the skillet for a good individual contributor. Nothing more common than a rockstar individual contributor being a terrible manager. I prefer to have a manager who knows little to nothing about what I do. Avoids being micromanaged. Much better to let them focus on being a manager and leave the technical details to me.
Ignorant folks that think they know more than engineers and technical experts. Getting in your business and ruining sections closely followed by their fake smiles and toxic traits. Most all have failed at technical or their original position. Lastly how they have zero accountability and although they get spoken to they are untouchable. Pull the scab off and discard them.
“More competent than your manager”
This isn’t difficult to accomplish in any O&G company, and it doesn’t say much for the person who accomplishes it.
Basically, if you can make your bed, take a shower, and show up on time you’ll get a six-figure paycheck.
I knew I was more competent than my former supervisor when she attempted to “improve” my slides. The unit conversions and statements were way off. I quietly fix it so equipment footprint doesn’t exceed the size of Texas.
Supervisors in EM are for not only Incompetent but also corrupt.
Because when a boss doesn't have what it takes for a job, he/she has to devaluate the job to the point he/she feels comfortable enough inhabiting it.
This, combined with zero accountability and no supervision explains why 90% of supervisors at EM are hated.
Must be a global issue. Sounds like Baton Rouge.
@1aln+1knIVpJh A LOT of people in Annandale suck the chrome off a trailer hitch. DW does not want to lose this
To @1fia+1knIVpJh This is exactly what is happening in Annandale. The managers know shlt. This is why the place is being closed. I think there are like 300 people left there. What a waste of money Annandale is. I still wonder why Darren keeps it open.
Knowing far more than your department manager can be career ending.
To put it another way, a department manager that know dangerously little about the department’s topic is a dangerous boss to have.
I think for most part managers are implementing the insane ranking system set by Darren Woods. They either have to implement it or find a new job. Just like you either accept the ranking or find a new job. The unethical behavior originates with Darren Woods.
The only function of a manager is to "distribute the pie" (a.k.a the ranking) and to "contain the discontent" of those who get the smallest pieces (a.k.a. PIP'ed).
It doesn't take much skil the do this
I’ve got a cat more competent than most managers, supervisors, and product owners.
What a bunch of bullsh$t.... you are full of yourself Engineers.
On technical stuff, I've always been more competent than any manager. However, on personnel stuff, I woukd suck, which is why I never had nanagerial aspirations. I'm ok with managers not being technical wizards, they need different skills than that. The few managers I've seen with strong technical skills were nearly all bad managers, and spent too much time poking their nose into technical work instead of managing.
To @dbk
Especially in PA wing in Annandale.
With very few exceptions, it's not about what you know. It's about who you blow.