How to use my boss correctly

Question

In a different thread Mr. Shark suggested to use your boss to be more efficient at work.

What would be your suggestions for the best way’s to utilize your boss in a development team?

Answer 1

Your boss should be a firewall between you and the noise of the business. You're an expensive resource and you must be allowed to concentrate on what you do best; programming.

His job is simply to prevent you being interrupted. The cost of interruptions is absolutely huge. After an interruption, it usually takes about 15 minutes to get back in to the zone. It doesn't take a genius to work out that only a hand-full of interruptions will completely trash a days worth of productivity. A day, once lost, is not easily reclaimed.

In my view, If the manager fails to prevent interruptions, they are failing to do their job.

Answer 2

When you say 'utilize your boss' do you mean 'How do I teach my boss to write code' or do you mean 'How do I convince my boss that my ideas are good'?

If it's the latter, check out I.M. Wright's Controlling your boss for fun and profit.
It's a funny yet totally applicable and valuable lesson about influence without authority.

There’s a great gesture you can do to show just how little you care about someone who is wallowing in self-pity. You lightly rub the tips of your thumb and forefinger together saying, “This is the world’s smallest violin playing, ‘My Heart Cries for You.’”

That’s how I feel when people complain about their helplessness in the face of the seemingly invincible power of their manager. “Oh, management will never give us the time to improve our build or change our practices.” “I wish our manager took this training. That’s the only way we’d ever take up inspections.", “I’m really uncomfortable with our product’s current direction and group’s organization, but there’s nothing I can do.”

Grow up, you weenies. Based on your pathetic excuses for inaction, nothing would ever get done. Don’t you think your bosses say the same thing regarding their bosses? If you don’t make desired change happen, it doesn’t happen. Period. The difference between you and someone powerful is not your level of control; it’s your willingness to act.

Answer 3

@Simon Johnson

I wish my boss realised that was his main role. He almost seems to ensure I get as many interruptions as possible by switching me from project to project as each becomes more "customer impacting". I hope I can use him to get a good reference!

Answer 4

You should use your boss to ...

• Get you the resources you need to do your work effectively and efficiently. Usually, that means money for travel to courses, books, etc. but it may also include hiring someone with specific expertise needed for a project.
• Organize the people and the work. The boss, who has the big picture, should decide the general priorities, and ensure that there are people available to work to meet the deadlines. This includes writing whatever routine management reports are require on progress.
• If (and only if) your boss is a good communicator, use her/him to problem-solve with the customers. It's easier to be diplomatic when you don't have to re-write the code. It's easier to be persuasive when you don't have that look of panic in your eyes!