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What kind of CAD Manager are you? - Part 3

There are many different types of CAD Managers.  We looked at three styles of management in June, three more in July and will continue the series this month.

Last time we looked at managers that appear to be Perfectionists.  This kind of manager sets the bar so high that neither they nor anyone else can hit the mark. Next was the Follower.  They let everyone else set their agenda.  Then there was the Dreamer. Dreamers spend too much time thinking about what might be, but never plan to make it happen.

This month we continue with three more styles.  The Risk Taker, the Blamer and the Victim.

7.  Risk Taker

Are you out on the edge of technology?  Applying tools that are untested?  Choosing software without due diligence?  Or are you grabbing at anything that might fix the problems your firm has without researching, thinking through and testing your perspectives.

How many of us have software or hardware tools on the shelf that we thought would do the job but never panned out.  This will happen even when we go through the process of weeding through all our options.  And some tools just need to be bought and put in place before we can really say if they will work or not.

Solution:

Research and Testing.  Take the time to research any tool you buy.  Are others using it successfully?  Have they had any problems?  Talk to your connections inside the company and outside.  Go on to the newsgroups, blogs, discussion groups and AUGI forums.  What is the buzz? 

Does the marketing hype pump up the tool too much?  Do the sales guys really know the product?  Can the get you the specs?  Can they get you the phone numbers of happy customers?

Test the product by getting a free download.  Load it and test it in your environment.  Some of the tools may limit or restrict the use of the trail version and others may allow unlimited use for 30 days.  Either way - get it and try it.  You may have to buy one copy to really test some tools and it may be worth it before you invest in multiple seats.

Document your testing and research.  write down what you found out and what you tested.  Test multiple packages from multiple vendors.

Once you have done your homework, make the purchase.  You still may get stuck with a few lemons, but your odds will be better for success.

8.  Blamer

Do you pass the blame on to others when things go wrong?  Do you blame the technology when things fail?  Are you deflecting any negatives that might come your way, even if you caused them or did not alleviate them?

This is a dangerous road to go down.  Deflecting the blame and not taking ownership of issues is a sure way to frustrate your firm, your boss and your users.  If you continue to reroute the negatives, people will catch on.  Soon they will know that you are not a bottom line deliverer of solutions.

Solution:

Taking ownership of issues means that you take on the complete ramifications of the outcome of events.  If there is success - you get credit.  If there is blame - you take it on the chin.  By taking ownership of issues, you place yourself on the line.  By taking on the risk you almost always guarantee a reward.  You will not give up, slide out from under or avoid tough problems.

If the owner of an issue is a team, strive to make the team successful.  Work in partnership with others.  Don't isolate your tasks from others.  Mix and match talents to get the greatest productivity. 

The benefits of taking ownership are many:

  • You learn more in the process

  • You take greater pride in your work and successes

  • You work harder and more diligently

  • You eventually work smarter and more productively

  • You apply yourself more fully – using more of your creativity

9.  Victim

Are others controlling your world?  Are you pushed around by upper management or your users?  Are there others in the firm that can override your decisions?  or can others just ignore them?  Do you mope around and complain about why things should be different and how you are just at the mercy of others?

You are exhibiting classic "victim" kinds of mentality.  You think that everything negative that happens to you is because of things outside your control.  This is akin to the "Blamer" I mentioned above, but this is where the blamer goes to live.  to much blaming and you end up thinking you are always a victim.

Solution:

I am not a psychologist and even spelling the word is tough for me.  So I am not going to try to dig into the deep causes for some of this kind of thinking.  But there are some things that can help you get out of this kind of rut.

Know that you can direct your own future.  In fact, most of the time we have choices at every step that determine the outcome of our circumstances.  Make positive choices based on the facts and not the "what if's".

Plan some thing small and see how you play a large part in getting things done.

Stick to the plan and don't give up.  Don't give in to defeatist attitudes.  Keep moving forward.  Don't let small setbacks get you down.

 

August 2007