This is a very typical week for me. When I logged in already I need to clean up people’s shit especially when it comes from people who claimed to be technical savvy but does not know the difference between IP address to a MAC address.

What happens when an idiot is trying to handle a difficult case, so for example configuring a monitor? The answer is something that has boggled me for a long time. You see, we received a bunch of monitors that has repeated issues, like flickering and having lines. Unable to fathom what was replaced and following blindly of what our technical page said, she couldn’t understand why problem wasn’t resolved in the first place. I don’t blame her for being stupid but I do blame her for what she does next.

She threw the case back to the call taker, asking him to handle this case because she couldn’t offer any explanation.

The call taker was pretty pissed considering that this case should be handled by a high level technical experience person. She wasn’t what I would call smart. All she ever does is try to look pretty to impress her boss while following documentation to the book. All I can say is that it’s pretty dumb to operate in the real world.

The solution is pretty simple actually; compare the resolution that the customer set and cross reference with the optimal resolution on our monitor. It’s not as if we asked her to fix an AC compressor or something…

All she needs to do during that moment of truth is to seek knowledge from another fellow technical person. Even she failed as doing that. She failed being a human being as well as a technical adviser.

The bathroom faucets opened as I really need to clear my head.

Apparently there’s a slight reorganization in my team and I seem to be destined to work that that particular backstabbing manager. While everyone is ‘congratulating’ me, I made my own plans to make sure everything goes as well.

It’s particularly hard to work with a guy who has PMS nearly every day.

It’s a miracle that I can survive his onslaught for nearly a year when I last worked with him. Practically every day is filled with backstabbing mails that my boss filled me in until he nearly decided to throw me to the wolves.

Another bad thing is one of the guys are also transitioned to the team as well. This guy practically has no backbone and would require to ask even the most minor detail. Micromanaging might not be my strong suit but I think being adults, you should micromanage people. You only micromanage people during the beginning of the phase but this guy being in the support for nearly 2 years would always approach me and ask trivial questions.

New theme today; nothing interesting, I just feel need a change of style for my eyes.

Time is a luxury that I don’t have. Everyday it’s been a busy day till I do not have the time to post. Yep, the pressure is on as my team is on its way to transition. The change is uncertain. We’re drafted to work with India, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. While the 4 countries are supportable, India is the only country with customer issues. Even an Indian colleague hated the way they speak and complain their accent in unbearable.

There was one time he scolded an Indian customer: “I am an Indian myself but I’m ashamed to talk to you.” He said talking to them is like strapping on equestrian clothing. They’re tight and neat but they’re mightily uncomfortable.

So my new challenge is to handle such picky customers who had too high regards on our system.

I’d be lying if I say I didn’t expect this massive reorganization to go smoothly. The asshole manager is back to ruin my life and I’ll make sure I stay few steps ahead of him to minimize holes on my back. He tried backstabbing me a few times even when I’m far away regarding some LCD monitor but I hope that I will make sure that all my tracks are covered and there are no weakness exposed to this backstabbing bastard.

Unlike a Orovo detox, it is not hard to be a manager. To make sure you’re an effective manager, you got to have trust in your men. You need to guide them on you want them to do.

1. Manage them but do not micro manage them. Most of them do not liked to be micro managed. If they want to be micro managed, you’ll know that they will approach you on every little small issues. Chasing them over a small issue just isn’t what a manager supposed to do because you need to let your men be an independent over your organization.

2. Assert your authority but not up to a point that they fear you. You might threaten them but the end result is always ugly because some of them do not take threat lightly. Chances are, they will never ever give you the 110% you need. Always let them know what you need and give them chance to explain and do not always condemn or give them stupid answers or requests.

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