DZone
Thanks for visiting DZone today,
Edit Profile
  • Manage Email Subscriptions
  • How to Post to DZone
  • Article Submission Guidelines
Sign Out View Profile
  • Post an Article
  • Manage My Drafts
Over 2 million developers have joined DZone.
Log In / Join
Refcards Trend Reports Events Over 2 million developers have joined DZone. Join Today! Thanks for visiting DZone today,
Edit Profile Manage Email Subscriptions Moderation Admin Console How to Post to DZone Article Submission Guidelines
View Profile
Sign Out
Refcards
Trend Reports
Events
Zones
Culture and Methodologies Agile Career Development Methodologies Team Management
Data Engineering AI/ML Big Data Data Databases IoT
Software Design and Architecture Cloud Architecture Containers Integration Microservices Performance Security
Coding Frameworks Java JavaScript Languages Tools
Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance Deployment DevOps and CI/CD Maintenance Monitoring and Observability Testing, Tools, and Frameworks
Partner Zones AWS Cloud
by AWS Developer Relations
Culture and Methodologies
Agile Career Development Methodologies Team Management
Data Engineering
AI/ML Big Data Data Databases IoT
Software Design and Architecture
Cloud Architecture Containers Integration Microservices Performance Security
Coding
Frameworks Java JavaScript Languages Tools
Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance
Deployment DevOps and CI/CD Maintenance Monitoring and Observability Testing, Tools, and Frameworks
Partner Zones
AWS Cloud
by AWS Developer Relations
The Latest "Software Integration: The Intersection of APIs, Microservices, and Cloud-Based Systems" Trend Report
Get the report
  1. DZone
  2. Software Design and Architecture
  3. Microservices
  4. The Seagull Manager (Tales from the Dark Side)

The Seagull Manager (Tales from the Dark Side)

Tony Siciliani user avatar by
Tony Siciliani
·
Apr. 17, 12 · Interview
Like (0)
Save
Tweet
Share
5.74K Views

Join the DZone community and get the full member experience.

Join For Free



"Seagull managers fly in, make a lot of noise, dump on everyone, and then fly out.”
- Ken Blanchard,  “The One Minute Manager ".


How do we know we have Seagulls as Managers? 

  • We never see them until there is a problem. Then...surprise! Here they are to save the day, or so they say (fly in phase)
  • They come out with guns blazing, shooting in all directions, grabbing all the attention, raising alarms, sending mass emails, etc...  (noise phase)
  • They criticize pretty much everybody they can, and in public (dump phase)
  • Then they leave as abruptly as they came, leaving all the mess behind for others to clean up (fly out phase)

The noise generation is to get all the credit should the issue get resolved. The fly out tactic is mainly to escape any accountability.

Why are Seagull Managers a Problem?

  • They are not involved with the team from the beginning, so they don't have a clue on how to really help out
  • The excessive noise they produce doesn't help to solve the problem at hand, it usually makes it worse
  • Their lack of people skills lowers team morale and motivation
  • They raise issues, blow them out of proportion, without remaining and taking responsibility until they are resolved.

The net result of this Hit-and-Run Management is a demotivated and unhappy team, who had to waste valuable time putting up with the Seagull's toxic verbiage, and again writing extra reports to address the generated noise instead of the problem. As for the unresolved issue itself, it is generally made worse, because the Seagull makes hasty decisions based on no real understanding of what needs to be done, and then leaves the team to deal with the consequences of those uninformed choices.

Why do we have Seagull Managers?

  • Initially well-intentioned people promoted to management without proper training
  • Unprepared, former high-ranking managers reassigned to lower positions, where they suddenly have to deal directly with technical staff
  • Psychologically weak individuals misusing their power status to feel important, and better about themselves
  • Corporate sharks and parasites not interested in real work, but seeking the spotlights for promotion.

The two first categories can be salvaged by training. The two last ones are personality - or lack of personality - traits that are way harder to address.

How to confront Seagull Infestation?

  • Direct face-to-face talks, with all the risks involved
  • Escalation, also with risks
  • Anonymous feedback, minimum risk but debatable effectiveness.

And when all else fails, fresh tactics. Here's an easy one, inspired by Martijn Verburg's  Diabolical Developer : install a rear-view mirror on your computer monitor. You'd want to be able to leave your desk quickly, should Flying Seagulls attempt a surprise landing in your immediate vicinity.

From Tony's Blog.
teams People skills Mirror (programming) Shooting (bridge) Monitor (synchronization) dev Clue (mobile app) Computer Trait (computer programming)

Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own.

Popular on DZone

  • Web Testing Tutorial: Comprehensive Guide With Best Practices
  • Creating a Personal ReadMe for Scrum Masters With ChatGPT
  • Chaos Data Engineering Manifesto: 5 Laws for Successful Failures
  • Journey to Event Driven, Part 1: Why Event-First Programming Changes Everything

Comments

Partner Resources

X

ABOUT US

  • About DZone
  • Send feedback
  • Careers
  • Sitemap

ADVERTISE

  • Advertise with DZone

CONTRIBUTE ON DZONE

  • Article Submission Guidelines
  • Become a Contributor
  • Visit the Writers' Zone

LEGAL

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy

CONTACT US

  • 600 Park Offices Drive
  • Suite 300
  • Durham, NC 27709
  • support@dzone.com
  • +1 (919) 678-0300

Let's be friends: