1. If you get into a fight with a skunk, it doesn't matter whether you win or lose, you lose. Pick your battles very carefully, CYA with paper. (Never write anything negative in a memo!)
2. Never test the depth of the water with both feet. Do your homework. Always leave yourself an out. An out can be an alternative project, a transfer guaranteed in hand--in writing, a large savings account, a winning lotto ticket, etc., anything to fall back on when the water turns out to be really deep, and ugly and swirling.
3. When you find yourself in a hole, quit digging. Know when to hold them, and know when to fold. It's OK and indeed wise, to back out of a bad project or endless argument in a timely manner.
4. When the boss asks for "vigorous, open, candid discussion" on a particular topic, the boss is lying. That statement is a classic red flag. If your supervisor is worthy of the position, statements such as the one above need not be said, it should be the working policy of the group. If a weak or domineering boss says that, that person is only looking for agreement. SHUT UP. DON'T ARGUE. Trust me on this one.
5. Good enough is good enough. As engineers, you will never get it perfect as "perfection" is not an achievable goal. There are many correct solutions to every engineering problem. Within the constraints of time, budget, other resources, you can fill a need and complete a task. At that point the job is done. Stop working on it.
6. When you are in up to your ears, keep your mouth shut. More damage has been done by trying to argue and defend a position than probably any other factor. It doesn't matter that you were right or wrong, when the discussion morphs into an argument, logic is irrelevant. At that point it is not what you say, but your saying anything that might very well be held against you. (NMAOTKYMS) [Never miss an opportunity to keep your mouth shut]
7. Good--Fast--Cheap. Pick two. If it is good and fast, it won't be cheap. If it is cheap and good, it won't be fast. If it is fast and cheap, it won't be good. This has been an engineering maxim since year 1. The original space program was good and fast. It was not cheap. In the past bunch of years, the official publicly stated policy for NASA was Good-Fast-Cheap. We've lost two shuttles, 2 Mars probes, and had a major problem with deep space and outer planet probes and had to do a major repair on Hubble. Enough said.
8. Responsibility without authority is fatal. Never accept responsibility for a project unless you have the parallel authority to influence the outcome. Alternately, when given a project make sure of exactly what authority you have and then make sure that your responsibility matches the authority. Make sure that everyone up and down the line knows who is responsible for what. CYA with paper.
9. You cannot inspect quality into a product. Design and materials selection is the basis for a quality. Inspection simply insures that you've met design specs. A perfectly manufactured and assembled Yugo is still a Yugo, not a Porsche. This goes for all aspects of life.
10. Career--Family--Major Hobbies: Pick two. Try as you may, you will not have time for all three. Heavy decisions. To attempt all three is to assure failure.
11. Be patient. It may take thirty years, but sooner or later they'll listen to you, and in the meantime, keep kicking ass. -- Florynce R. Kennedy
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