Trending @Infosys; It took me a while to realise why so many employees despise the work culture
I have worked on the same project for quite a while now. Interacted and worked with multiple managers, spread out across onsite and offshore teams. Of the ones who were/are onshore, they were all Indian folks who at some point in the past moved abroad, and inculcated the characteristics of the work culture of those countries. Alternatively, I may not be giving them enough credit, and they may just have become really good managers who developed the skillset required to manage a team along the way. While interacting with them, it felt like they valued their own time as well as mine. And they did their homework every single time.
Due to some recent interactions, I started thinking about the managers who I’ve worked with offshore. My first ever manager was excellent for team management activities; readily available, eager to help, and effective. A rare combo, as I would get to know after some time.
Of the other three managers I have had to work with, two have at least been well-intentioned. However, they were one or more of either ineffective, slacking off, or most likely of these all, overworked. And absolutely deep up to the nose in work kind of overworked. The third one, however, does none of the managing part that I’ve seen the others at the very least attempt to do, and is just deeply unpleasant to work with. It has never felt like he values anyone’s time.
Bad managers are a direct reflection of the higher management. The Infy C-suite does not reward empathetic managers in the slightest. And it may be for that exact reason that the first offshore manager I mentioned moved over to a non-managerial role.
Studies mention that an effective team size for managers is a team of 5 to 7 employees. This may be a bit too idealistic. However, I still believe that if you are not willing to work with an employee whose work you manage, you should not be their manager. Get someone in the middle of you two who would like to do the “dirty” work for you.
Wondering your experience level!! But you have nailed it. Very keen / correct observations !!! The mid level manager quality is going down cause of all these factors. I am seeing managers with 40+ resources already across differnt projects plus manager himself billable on different project . Plus during and post COVID lot JL6 have been recruited as manager to match salary but none have any managerial capability or intellect.
Not a lot in the form of experience, buddy. Around the 4-5 year mark. I joined as an MBA, and have worked in a few short stints here and there earlier (multiple internships and some job experience). Have had my fair share of experience from terrible to tolerable management across a few sectors.
I had heard of this thing you mentioned, about the point of hiring JL6 as managers for TC; but had somehow forgotten about it entirely. It makes sense.
My previous manager moved on site. The one I am stuck with now is something else🥲🥲
