Persuasion methods for engineering managers

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What is the point of being great at persuading if one is persuading peers, reports, and leaders to do the wrong thing? Persuasion is necessary but it should be second to the suggestion actually being a step in the desired direction.

Now that we have this list, we should pay close attention to its use. If someone uses these especially for personal gain, and especially at the company’s expense, it should be addressed. A company should value truth. We should not rely on persuasion tricks.

It is sad that being an engineering manager in the vast majority of tech companies is about politics not about engineering. A lot of engineers who opt for the management root learn this the very hard way.

The big persuasion missing from the list is persuading, both upwards and downwards, who should work on what.

It sounds super cynical but it is important to park the unproductive people on the unimportant work else nothing works. It is usually counterproductive to actually release people (the EM is rewarded for number of reports above all else) etc so you have to put the good people on what is important and somehow lend the bad people to the projects and competing teams to hamper them etc.

Sad but super true.

I don't understand why any of these except hiring is persuasion. Engineering managers don't pitch projects. They shouldn't be persuading leadership to give them resources, they just lay out timelines for what is possible with now, with more. Maybe even with less.

As an engineer and engineering leader in my career I've never had to persuade or be persuaded to do the tasks I'm assigned. They're the job. Sometimes they're boring. I think about that during planning and make sure people get some variety and ask them what they like working on.

Why would you need to persuade a cross team lead to help you? Are they not doing their job? I've never asked and been told "you have to persuade me" and if I was told that I'd ask leadership for clarification on priorities.

This sounds like organizational dysfunction and fiefdom building.

The only method that works long term is being honest about what you want from people and honest about the diff between your expectations and their output.

In a previous company many times new managers asked me how to approach a subject with their reports and usually they wouldn't consider just saying it exactly as they described it to me. Just say what you mean, it'll help all your relationships, not even just work ones.

It's hard enough trying to convey what you mean clearly, adding shenanigans that you'll also be bad at on top is not going to help.

What a load of nonsense. You would think engineers were working for free, and these companies were competing trying to get that free service. YOURE PAYING THEM TO DO A JOB. They either do it, on time, to the standard expected, or they're gone and they dont get paid. That is all the persuasion necessary. The sooner companies get this in their heads, the sooner theyll have staff who actually get things done, to a good standard and on time.

This is why my company doesnt hire US developers. They seem to be under the impression they are auditioning us, that we would be lucky to have them and need try woo them. Seemingly unaware I can get a developer from Ukraine who is technically better, will work for far less, get on with the job, won't whine and moan as much, and with none of the entitlement.

Something irked me about this post as a long term EM, and then reading the final part actually provided the clarity: The author is a sociopath.

Stalking your superiors is insane. Most of the behaviour here is insane. Decoy cup size? Present the option that is best for the business and be done with it.

This is a sign of a sick company.

As a previous EM at a FAANG, I'm very conflicted by this post. On one hand, it is quite useful and representative of some of the behind-the-scenes shenanigans that I wish I was aware of at the time that would've made my life easier. On the other hand, it is representative of the time and effort wasted on political bullshit at big tech that could certainly have been put to better use. TL;DR: Thanks, I hate it.