How to manage your boss

What Hacker News says

1. jayalphaApr 2019
   "What makes it even more complicated is that in a big org, knowing which tasks are important changes over time and with managers and manager's managers."

   No, they don't. There is only one task in your job, to make your boss happy. Strangely, this is rarely achieved by good job performance but often by social skills or idiotic metrics. "How to manage your boss" is worth a read.

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2. e15ctr0nMar 2017
   * The Bhagavad Gita http://amzn.com/1586380192

   * On Managing Yourself http://amzn.com/1422157997

   * The Dilbert Principle by Scott Adams http://amzn.com/0887308589

   * The Peter Principle by by Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull http://amzn.com/0062092065

   * How to Manage Your Boss by Christopher Hegarty http://amzn.com/034531817X

   * Time Management by Veronica Hurst http://amzn.com/1537560700

   * The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey http://amzn.com/1451639619

   * The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo http://amzn.com/1607747308

   * The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle http://amzn.com/0553328255

   * Alistair MacLean's best novels:

   ++ Night Without End http://amzn.com/0006161227

   ++ Fear Is the Key http://amzn.com/0006159915

   ++ The Dark Crusader or The Black Shrike http://amzn.com/0006165435

   ++ The Golden Rendezvous http://amzn.com/0006162592

   ++ The Satan Bug http://amzn.com/B002RI9DAQ

   ++ Ice Station Zebra http://amzn.com/B0046A9MO0

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3. JSeymourATLNov 2014
   How are you at Interpersonal Reads?-- sounds like he's Big Picture, while you're the Detail Guy.

   Realize some of this friction comes from you. Persevere, suggest reading up on Conflict Management and How to Manage Your Boss.

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4. calibraxisJun 2013
   "Disciplined Minds" was written by someone knowledgeable. From ch. 15:

   "Remember also that profesional training is preceded by at least 16 years of preparatory socialization in the schools. Students who go on to professional training tend to be the "best" students—those who, among other things, excel at playing by the rules. [...]

   "Alone in a large program designed to mold you, you cannot uphold an independent outlook for long. By yourself you can't even maintain a point of reference against which to sense that your outlook is drifting and to gauge how far it has drifted, because the training system, so as not to sabotage itself, excludes sources of critical distance."

   It even meshes with what ender7 said. He wrote, "once you get into a PhD program you are shockingly, horrifyingly alone." And he pointed out the preparatory programs.

   The book also delves into your point about "learning how to manage your boss". Many cynically "play the game" and generally do a bit better than those who don't. But even that's part of the system. You know the rules and still subordinate yourself, ironically believing you're in control of Big Boss. Remember, a boss is defined as someone who gives you commands which you obey. An inherently pathetic position, which many frankly call (wage) slavery. The court may plot and scheme, but the king is still their king.

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