Would you like me to publish my CV?

This thread is supposed to be about advising a young bloke just starting out, not managers defending their turf.

We'll have to disagree. Maybe by another fifteen years or so you'll have come around to my way of thinking.

I'm starting to feel mildly insulted here Geoff. Have you ever managed a department?

No it was just an 850 Bed Hospital circa 1986

Thanks Mate.

But I get "mildly" insulted on here almost every day. Water off a duck's back, Tony.

For what it's worth, my proudest claim to fame was being de facto (but, as usual, never by job title, or indeed salary) Operations Manager of the Asir, Najran and Al-Baha Regional Medical Equipment Maintenance Project (and it was the first, and therefore the most "challenging", I might add). What was that? 65 guys, 13 job sites, ten large hospitals, 14 small (it may have been more, but I forget now) ... and, oh, over 350 clinics! Over a wide geographical area (but not as large as Oz, granted) in the mountains to the south of Saudi Arabia (the bit next to Yemen).

And (whilst I'm blowing my horn, as it were), I may as well mention that it was me who bid for that project (and won) 18 months earlier. It just shows what a humble army-trained tech can do (and I could cite a few of my old mates here as well, but will spare you all that).

But even that was getting on for twenty years ago now (no mobile phones and internets then, then). Since then it's all been a bit downhill, unfortunately. But there again (as has been mentioned on here a few times before), I am "Yesterday's Man" ... and only thrusting young degree holders are allowed to be, shall we say, "clever". Never mind that ... what about "accomplished"? Ha, ha.

Then, how can you possibley say that managers do no more than play with spreadsheets and go to meetings?

and, gosh, getting of post subject, never seen you do that before...........

Back to Jordan ( not the Country or Dear Katy ) Hey matey, if your looking for a Good Paying Job RBS will be recruiting soon, mind you they are a " Wunch of Bankers " !! ha ha
Degrees in Centigrade and Fahrenheit ( see I can even spell it ) are equally acceptable !! Tee Hee

Not too Shabby then Geoff, my best was 6 Brit Techs and 13 Indian Lads, a good bunch too.

I know its getting a little off topic but regarding the last few posts:
Whilst many Managers are very ineffective there are those that are not.It wouldn't be fair to tar all with the same brush. One of my bug bears is when Managers make decisions (Sometimes poor ones) without involving staff. Another very fustrating issue is not listening to or implementing common sense suggestions, improvements etc.
A favourite quote banded about by Managers is "Its historical" when referring to why things are done in a certain (usually inefficient)way.
A good Manager engages staff, communicates with them, takes their concerns forward, acts on their suggestions (if they are plausible), deligates responsibility and automony and above all supports them. In return for this style of management, staff tend to show more respect, less conflict and enjoy a better level of morale towards their management.
I think some Managers lose site of these qualities and induce conflict and disrespect unnecessarily.
There are thankfully some good managers (in my opinion) just as there are good and bad technicians (IMO)

On yes, Mate. I was in my element there for sure. And the Only Brit in Town (as usual).

Pity about your Brit techs (which one was that, Jeddah - Medina?) ... I always found "best results" with the Filipinos and Indians (and, up to a point, the Egyptians).

@Dave

Perhaps we're getting confused here between Managers and Leaders.

As we know, the NHS is full of the former, but the latter are a bit few and far between.

@Topper

Fair enough, Mate. Remember that mantra that I've chanted so many times on here before:-

"Lead, follow ... or get out of the way"!

PS: I hope that Jordan is talking all this good stuff on board!

Nice one Topper, A Captain who runs a Happy Ship is also secure in his position.

If you have the right team around you, managing is easy. I have always stated that you cannot learn to manage from a book, you can either do it or you cannot.