Self Evaluation by Rob

I spent a couple of hours tonight filling out my annual self-evaluation for work.  While I would rather not go through the trouble of writing down everything I already know about myself, Lee insisted that I do it.  I would say that he just has me do it so he doesn't have to bother two-finger-typing out all those words himself, but I actually did get a lot out of it, much more than if he had just written it himself and lectured me on what he thinks.  Maybe he's onto something.  Would my employees benefit more from their own self-evaulation than they do from my dictatorial perspective?  Perhaps I'll try it next time.

Anyways, I would like to think that I'm capable of both boasting about my own merits and admitting to my own faults.  This year I have judged my work performance as being much further from where I want it to be than I have been in previous years.  I've been listening to those management and programmer podcasts and thinking about everything I've previously learned about good development techniques, standards, and practices.  Sometimes the more you know, the more you know you don't know, you know?  Seriously, read it again if you don't get it.  Profound stuff.  Quote me if you want.  I need more info!  There is to much to learn about how other people have done what I am trying to do:  running a development department.  So much to learn, so little time!

I'm considering how I'm in the optimal role to facilitate real change:  the fulcrum point between programmers and managers.  I have the visibility to see how things are done and how our methods have succeeded or failed and I have the power and influence to change it all.  I have the respect and support of my employees and my manager.  I have the maturity to admit to myself how truly immature our development strategies and standards are.  I could blame the environment, the business, upper management, previous managers, the programmers, or whatever, but I blame me.  Ouch!  I've had this department under my wing for six years now, even before I was promoted to manager, as I was still in the key influential role as the department's lead developer.  What have I done with the department?  Our practices are still essentially a hodge-podge of shoot-from-the-hip quick-fixes.  As Stephen Covey would say we're spending almost every moment of our time in quadrants 1 and 3.  As Larry the Cable Guy would say, we just "get 'r dun!"  As Richard Hooker would say, we perform "meatball surgery" on our tickets.  Any forward thinking or proactivity almost happens accidentally, after a particular problem has happened a dozen times we finally say "gee wiz we sure should come up with some sort of way to make that stop happening all the freaking time".  If it ain't broke don't fix it, we say.  If it's kind of halfway broke but can limp along then maybe give it a crutch and kick it out the door.  So, what am I going to do about it?  I haven't formulated a concrete plan but I am working on it.  Generally speaking, I shall use the power and intellect of my programmers to pull the team up by its own bootstraps.  I can't do it all myself, that much I've learned over the years.  Hey!  I'm excited about my job again!

Also in the news today:  I got new glasses!  I don't normally wear glasses since I've grown accustomed to contacts but also my old pair's prescription was out of date and they made my head feel weird.  I had plenty of contacts left over from last year since I've been keeping them in for so long, so this year I decided I would use my vision benefits to get some new glasses.  We went with the thick-framed nerdy variety.  Sexy, eh?






Education:

• I looked in the mirror at myself at work and decided to fix what I didn't like.

Diet and Exercise:

• Made it to the gym this morning, had a killer leg workout, 45 min total with abs and a bit of cardio and stretching in the sauna.  After today I'm not going to do any more strength training on my legs until after my Century.
• Diet was fine.  Salad for lunch, small dinner, small dessert, several snacks, typical stuff.