Comments on: Are you interruptable? http://www.onemanwrites.co.uk/2010/04/15/are-you-interruptable/ musings on technical communications Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:40:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gordon McLean http://www.onemanwrites.co.uk/2010/04/15/are-you-interruptable/comment-page-1/#comment-22424 Gordon McLean Fri, 30 Apr 2010 06:54:15 +0000 http://www.onemanwrites.co.uk/?p=620#comment-22424 Haitham, I don't think anyone who is a manager was forced into the position, so not sure if people "end up" being managers as much as people think, and the slide towards more responsibility isn't (shouldn't) ever be a flip of the switch, you will build up some experience of managing a team the more senior you get. That said, some people are better at managing a team than others, just as some people are better at technical writing than others. In my case, I'll happily admit that my personality and approach to work makes me (in my opinion) a better manager than I was a technical writer (I'm not an expert at either!). However, having done the role I can coach other technical writers. A lot of this is down to understanding personalities, and team profiles. The team I'm part of is well balanced for a reason. I know many people who have always been technical writers, and always will be because they have no interest in 'management'. More power to them! Ohh and no-one ever truly masters being a technical writer, that is something you will also learn in time :) Haitham, I don’t think anyone who is a manager was forced into the position, so not sure if people “end up” being managers as much as people think, and the slide towards more responsibility isn’t (shouldn’t) ever be a flip of the switch, you will build up some experience of managing a team the more senior you get.

That said, some people are better at managing a team than others, just as some people are better at technical writing than others.

In my case, I’ll happily admit that my personality and approach to work makes me (in my opinion) a better manager than I was a technical writer (I’m not an expert at either!). However, having done the role I can coach other technical writers. A lot of this is down to understanding personalities, and team profiles. The team I’m part of is well balanced for a reason.

I know many people who have always been technical writers, and always will be because they have no interest in ‘management’. More power to them!

Ohh and no-one ever truly masters being a technical writer, that is something you will also learn in time :)

]]> By: Haitham Razagui http://www.onemanwrites.co.uk/2010/04/15/are-you-interruptable/comment-page-1/#comment-22416 Haitham Razagui Fri, 30 Apr 2010 01:17:23 +0000 http://www.onemanwrites.co.uk/?p=620#comment-22416 I'm young so I still don't get this: You train for years and build lots of experience as a Technical Writer and then, once (or often before) you've truly mastered it, you end up as a manager and are back at square one in terms of experience. Of course, some find they are very talented managers but I have seen teams lose great writers to the management carrot. I’m young so I still don’t get this: You train for years and build lots of experience as a Technical Writer and then, once (or often before) you’ve truly mastered it, you end up as a manager and are back at square one in terms of experience. Of course, some find they are very talented managers but I have seen teams lose great writers to the management carrot.

]]> By: Craig http://www.onemanwrites.co.uk/2010/04/15/are-you-interruptable/comment-page-1/#comment-22215 Craig Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:40:22 +0000 http://www.onemanwrites.co.uk/?p=620#comment-22215 I am interruptable. However, after several years as a technical writer a at small company, most of my work still involves technical writing, rewriting, and technical editing -- all of which I enjoy. I am interruptable. However, after several years as a technical writer a at small company, most of my work still involves technical writing, rewriting, and technical editing — all of which I enjoy.

]]> By: Techquestioner http://www.onemanwrites.co.uk/2010/04/15/are-you-interruptable/comment-page-1/#comment-21970 Techquestioner Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:08:37 +0000 http://www.onemanwrites.co.uk/?p=620#comment-21970 Gordon, It sounds like you're becoming the kind of manager I've always loved to work for -- someone who handles the problems with SMEs and other departments, and gives the writers what they need to do their jobs! Gordon,

It sounds like you’re becoming the kind of manager I’ve always loved to work for — someone who handles the problems with SMEs and other departments, and gives the writers what they need to do their jobs!

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