| Unwritten Law |
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Whatever Your Supervisor Wants Gets Priority -
You may think you have more important things to do first, but unless you obtain permission it is usually unwise to put any other project ahead of a specific assignment from your own supervisor. As a rule, your boss has good reasons for wanting a job done now, and it is apt to have a great deal more bearing upon your performance rating than less conspicuos projects that may appear more urgent. *Note: Engineer W.J. King authored The Unwritten Laws of Engineering in 1994 and James Skakoon updated them in 1994. King observed that the chief obstacles to the success of individual engineers were of a personal and administrative rather than a technical nature. Engineers would get into more trouble by violating the unwritten laws of professional conduct rather than by committing technical sins against the well-documented laws of science. He wrote the "Unwritten Laws" to serve as guide for engineers as they progress through their careers. Several more Unwritten Laws are described in this module to complement the material. You can purchase your own copy on ASME.org. |
Working With Your Supervisor
There is an old saying that you can't choose your family. In many respects, the same can be said about your supervisor. During the interviewing process your future supervisor was assessing your potential as an engineer and your ability to help the company. Your goal during the interview was to impress the interviewer because you wanted the job. But in trying to sell yourself, did you make any effort to determine what it would be like to work for this person?
If you are like most people the answer is no. You won't really know what type of management style your supervisor utilizes until you start the job. Some supervisors assign the task, provide the direction and let their subordinates determine the best way to approach the project. There are others that not only assign the task but also tell you exactly how to solve the problem. That means you must adapt to that style regardless of your supervisor's management techniques.
Remember that your direct supervisor has control over your immediate future. Your supervisor provides you with your initial training, decides on your job assignments, determines if you are meeting expectations, assesses your performance and decides on your salary increase.
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