The Power of Pre Conceived Notions

As anyone who works in a Silicon Valley company (or a company with similar outlook) would endorse, there comes a time in an individual's career when she has to choose between an Individual Contributor(IC) role or a managerial role. ICs in general, are viewed as anti-social nerds with technical brilliance. They would be a square peg in the round managerial hole. On the other hand, the managers have the ability to lead teams, solve administrative problems, provide strategy and vision etc.

This model of strict demarcation works great in many cases. But as with anything, attempts to "strait jacket" these would usually be extremely counter productive. I have been in situations where there is a firm division between what they call the managerial growth path and the technology growth path and never the twain shall meet.

Consider my example for instance. I have always been technically strong which in silicon valley parlance means I understand code and programming well. But I want to grow beyond technical ability and want to handle tasks that are more organizational, strategic and visionary. I had been thwarted in these attempts by some of my ex bosses who had fixed perceptions about the managerial role. Some of them think that I would become a bad manager and also lose out on my technical abilities if I choose what they call the "managerial growth path". This myopic view is the most prominent reason for the abundance of "dunce" managers with very limited vision and a general inability to guide people.

This was in line with a discussion that I was having with a colleague of mine recently. We tend to be seen by people according to their pre-conceived notions. If you are viewed as a geek, then you cannot be a manager. So no matter what you do everything will reinforce the geeky thing and negate the managerial ability.

And if such a person who has pigeon holed you, happens to be your boss, then God save you! He is going to create situations that would make you perform sub-optimally in places, that he with his infinite wisdom deems, are beyond your ken. This kind of attitude is extremely detrimental to personal growth. Makes you really want to scream out sometimes.

This made me remember a poem that I had read when I was a kid. It is about a hypochondriac king who refused to believe he was hale and hearty.
Read the poem for yourself - "The Enchanted Shirt" by John Hay.