Strange situation

badaz52

I work as an IT Manager for a respectable business, I have two technicians that work for me and I have a boss that I have to report too.

My skills lie with managing the systems, networks, hardware, software etc. Part of the job requires some DIY installation work such as running cables, installing cabinets, trunking etc to which I am not the best at doing, nor am I trained in or interested in doing. I choose IT as a career path.

My boss is currently asking that I carry out these DIY tasks as a way of personal development to which In my opinion is my business what skills I would like and not theirs, also when I have technical staff working for me that already have these skills why would I undertake a job as a manager when these tasks can be delegated? surely that it up to me who I assign a task to and it is my duty to ensure that I assign a task to the best person for that particular job and if that isn't me then fair enough.

Surely as a manager when I am assigned a task that is within my remit I can choose however and whoever to do this job and as long as the job is completed it should not be of concern who completes it or how it gets completed as long as it does.

Is it right for my manager to assign a task and then dictate how it gets done? surely this makes my role as a manager pointless? should I force the issue as a manager and ask them to butt out?

I believe I am being micromanaged but what can I do about it?

mountainofdebt

Sounds as if he would like you to learn these skills so that they can make the technicians redundant.

Mind you if I refused to do something that my boss had asked because I thought it was 'beneath me' I would expect to find myself on the receiving end of a disciplinary.

As to what you can do - you can either do what your boss asks or find yourself a different boss to work for

browneyedbazzi

I find your attitude to development rather odd OP...of course it is senior management's business what skills their staff develop as the skills available in the workforce will have a huge impact on how the business functions. I really don't understand how you as a manager (if you're a half decent one) can't see that. They may think you developing the skills to do this work will improve resilience within the business (ie if something needs to be done and the capable junior staff aren't available), or that it will be necessary for you to be able to undertake this work in order to cope with increased demand in the future. They may also think that a manager should have the skills to do the jobs they are tasking to junior staff so that they can effectively supervise and monitor the work.

You either accept that it's a management direction and follow it or expect to be on a disciplinary or out the door. TBH if you've displayed the attitude in your original post to your manager in the past they might be pushing a button in secret hope that you kick off and they have an excuse to get rid.

badaz52

Don't get me wrong I am open to development but fail to see how being an IT Manager would ever require being up ladders with drill in hand doing work that lets face it to some degree is maintenance work, I'm not a technician nor am I an engineer both titles would imply this.

I am able to do the DIY aspects of the job but do not like it, take interest in it or work very quickly or effectively because it is not something I am comfortable with and when targets are imposed on this work I see it best to assign this job to my technicians who have years of experience with these type of installations and are better suited to complete the task.

I cannot fathom though how I may be assigned a task as a manager and then have my manager dictate how the task should be done and who should do it whats the point of having me as a manager then? <<<<< this is my biggest issue with it to be honest.

I would do the work all be it I would have no choice to if my technicians were unavailable but when they are available why would I do the task? I'm not saying its beneath me at all as I have been a technician myself so get stuck in with my fair share of the work. I assign tasks on who I think has the best skill set for the task and who I believe can complete the task in the required time, I mean you wouldn't hire a joiner to install a radiator would you? it's the same kind of thing everyone has different skills and to not utilise a team in this way is an in-effective way to do business would you not agree?

Also my JD states to manage this type of work not do it so surely I'm not even obliged to do it.

As for the attitude of do what they ask or find another job why should I? I am doing my job and doing it well I am being asked to do something which I am not contracted to do. I am managing the work load, meeting targets and getting the tasks completed.

Jules2012

Does using equipment like drills not require some sort of certificate or electrical training?

badaz52

I would have thought so, I have had some in house training by that I mean 5 minutes here and there showing me how to do certain things, nothing formal at all.

If I feel nervous about undertaking certain tasks that I feel could endanger me or other people because I have not had adequate or suitable training is this not reason enough to not undertake that work? from a health and safety point of view I don't feel safe doing such work.

bluenoseam

Imagine the scenario - it's January 17th, there's a major job needs doing. One of your "technicians" is on paternity leave, the other's fallen ill with flu, a third has been snowed in and YOU are the only one who can get to the job - if the job doesn't get done, you've lost your company a multi-million pound contract which goes to your competitor.

Suddenly doesn't sound like such a bad idea to know some stuff like installation of cabinets does it? I know it's not what you want to do, but if I were in your shoes I'd look more at the value it adds as opposed to "eurgh, I'm a manager, I shouldn't be doing this!". (Incidentally, much as this will get me slated no doubt, that ethos in my book puts you on the wrong side of the "good management" scale)

Don't look at it from the "it's stuff I really don't want to do and it's not my remit" and think of it more as "OK, so I might not want to do this, but some day I might HAVE to do this". Who knows, maybe a couple of years down the line some extra strings to your bow earns you a couple of grand more? Maybe it's the difference between you getting a new job & some other guy getting it because while they didn't WANT to do it, they felt it might serve them well.

anamenottaken

badaz52 wrote: »

Don't get me wrong I am open to development but fail to see how being an IT Manager would ever require being up ladders with drill in hand doing work that lets face it to some degree is maintenance work, I'm not a technician nor am I an engineer both titles would imply this.

I am able to do the DIY aspects of the job but do not like it, take interest in it or work very quickly or effectively because it is not something I am comfortable with and when targets are imposed on this work I see it best to assign this job to my technicians who have years of experience with these type of installations and are better suited to complete the task.

I cannot fathom though how I may be assigned a task as a manager and then have my manager dictate how the task should be done and who should do it whats the point of having me as a manager then? <<<<< this is my biggest issue with it to be honest.

I would do the work all be it I would have no choice to if my technicians were unavailable but when they are available why would I do the task? I'm not saying its beneath me at all as I have been a technician myself so get stuck in with my fair share of the work. I assign tasks on who I think has the best skill set for the task and who I believe can complete the task in the required time, I mean you wouldn't hire a joiner to install a radiator would you? it's the same kind of thing everyone has different skills and to not utilise a team in this way is an in-effective way to do business would you not agree?

Also my JD states to manage this type of work not do it so surely I'm not even obliged to do it.

As for the attitude of do what they ask or find another job why should I? I am doing my job and doing it well I am being asked to do something which I am not contracted to do. I am managing the work load, meeting targets and getting the tasks completed.

And does it say at the end of the job description something like "and undertake other duties as reasonably requested"?

It is not unreasonable for your manager to ask you to do something which you say you are capable of doing even if not as well as someone you manage. Practice makes perfect - you could get better.

Just as, when you have the choice, you decide who will carry out a task, your manager has decided that he wants you to do a particular task. I doubt that your JD says that you don't do a particular task but simply manage others to do it. It is much more sensible for it to say that you ensure that XYZ is done.

browneyedbazzi

badaz52 wrote: »

I would have thought so, I have had some in house training by that I mean 5 minutes here and there showing me how to do certain things, nothing formal at all.

If I feel nervous about undertaking certain tasks that I feel could endanger me or other people because I have not had adequate or suitable training is this not reason enough to not undertake that work? from a health and safety point of view I don't feel safe doing such work.

If that is the case then you should be talking to your manager about what support you need from them to gain the necessary skills to do the job safely. You really do sound like someone who thinks the task is beneath them and is grasping at straws for a reason why you shouldn't have to do it.

Takeaway_Addict

As a manager you should know the basics of what the people you manage do

badaz52

100% I do not believe the job is beneath me and I'm sorry if it has come across that way although I'm not as good as some of my team members at this type of work I can learn from them and get better its not that I can't do it so in terms of being off I'll I could cover the work. What I am disagreeing with is when I have a full compliment of staff who can do the job better and quicker should I not be allowed to delegate to who I want and not be forced to do it just for training purposes especially when said task has a pretty strong deadline for it and I'm still learning it which just increases the risk of accident surely and that really concerns me.