I could have said the same as you OP - my supervisor lacks technical expertise in our area but makes up for it by being very deferential to her superiors and she's able to keep them happy. Being on the other end of that equation sucks though, because all she can do is try to turn my work and ideas into our own, and inadvertently downgrades the quality of my product - she doesn't understand that's the role she's playing of course.

The way to deal with it is: 1) forget this whole "no brains" "talentless" mentality. That is getting you no where. Clearly she brings something to the table - observe what that is and think about it. You already have the substance, but perhaps she has the people skills, or the confidence, or the BS/thinking on your feet. Learn from what she's doing - emulate the good, don't get obsessed with the bad. That just reflects poorly on you. 2) do not back down on substance. That's what you bring to the table. When she wants to dumbs your work, don't make it easy for her - respectfully express your concerns (stick to the subject at hand, don't get personal) and if she insists on putting forth something that is not technically sound, say that you can't back it, but won't protest her submitting what you disagree with. 3) find ways to work with others. Become known to other teams, other leads. Let others see your value. The more that others see your talent for what it is, the harder it is for her to cut you out and silence your talents. Hopefully, eventually, some one else will request you for their team instead.

If none of that works, or if it's just insufferable, then move on. You have great talent - or at least that's what you claim. So you should have options to move on if this place isn't making good use of your talents.

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. I'm a supervisor and would absolutely hate to have a subordinate like you. You are wasting your time and talents worried about her. Just do your job. It is a well-known fact technical people are usually not good managers. She may not understand (or care, frankly) about all of the intricacies of your technical area, but she shouldn't have to. That's why you are there. Her job is to manage, which I would imagine will be a tall order considering your attitude. Grow. Up.

+1.

OP, remember the thread about the person who loved their job but her colleagues and boss were taking parts of her portfolio? I guess it can be crappy if your boss does know your work.

I once had a boss who was not technical AND a terrible manager, but he desperately wanted to do our work. We assigned him "busy work".

I guess I'm saying there are lots of bad managers and some understand your job and some don't.

Anonymous wrote:None of us on this board are in the position to know if the manager is truly incompetent, or if the OP is just a bitter, resentful subordinate who lacks the social skills to forge a positive relationship and instead takes out her resentment on the manager. I think both scenarios are VERY common in the workplace.

People who have advanced as far as they can go in a company like OP often reek of resentment and bitterness, IMO.

You're right, we have no idea - so why even bother adding this comment?!

None of us on this board are in the position to know if the manager is truly incompetent, or if the OP is just a bitter, resentful subordinate who lacks the social skills to forge a positive relationship and instead takes out her resentment on the manager. I think both scenarios are VERY common in the workplace.

People who have advanced as far as they can go in a company like OP often reek of resentment and bitterness, IMO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ambition, EQ, and simply showing up beats out striver BS every time. It's not fair but that's the way it goes.

OP, look at how all the responses have turned on you. Listening to the DCUM demographic, you'd think that there were no incompetent supervisors. They will never believe they could possibly be the problem, and anyone young and competent is just entitled.

This is why you have to be as self serving as possible when it comes to your career. Make your boss your ally, learn her weaknesses, then find the opportune moment to throw her under the bus. No one will look out for you except yourself.

I'm the PP you're quoting. I'm not sure what you got from my post, but I realize there are PLENTY of incompetent supervisors. They get there by playing the game. Likability and ambition goes a loooong way for women, sadly, more so than skill. I see it daily. And I'm a woman, not a bitter man complaining that women are handed things unfairly.

So I am in a similar situation and I have read this thread with interest.

I agree it is frustrating and I also agree that the best thing to do is suck it up and try not to make an enemy. I do think it is true that there are a lot of skills that go into management from leadership to organization to innovation and at least some technical knowledge even if that is not your strength. So maybe you can try to look more generously upon her and recognize that she has some strengths that you don't?

Other than that, I really don't know. I am a recent transplant to the DC area and I will say I have never seen such self-important managers as I have here. It seems to be largely about power plays and drama than getting work done. It has been a culture shock for me. And what is with all these "check in" meetings? Never happened in New York (or London for that matter) while we were generally assumed to be skilled professionals who didn't need babysitting.

But at the end of the day it is better to be on friendly terms with your boss so there you have it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ambition, EQ, and simply showing up beats out striver BS every time. It's not fair but that's the way it goes.

OP, look at how all the responses have turned on you. Listening to the DCUM demographic, you'd think that there were no incompetent supervisors. They will never believe they could possibly be the problem, and anyone young and competent is just entitled.

This is why you have to be as self serving as possible when it comes to your career. Make your boss your ally, learn her weaknesses, then find the opportune moment to throw her under the bus. No one will look out for you except yourself.

And, in the interest of public safety, as the Director of WMATA, we WILL look out for you when you aren't looking out for yourself, or others. THAT is how much we care about each and every one of you. ™

Huh?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ambition, EQ, and simply showing up beats out striver BS every time. It's not fair but that's the way it goes.

OP, look at how all the responses have turned on you. Listening to the DCUM demographic, you'd think that there were no incompetent supervisors. They will never believe they could possibly be the problem, and anyone young and competent is just entitled.

This is why you have to be as self serving as possible when it comes to your career. Make your boss your ally, learn her weaknesses, then find the opportune moment to throw her under the bus. No one will look out for you except yourself.

And, in the interest of public safety, as the Director of WMATA, we WILL look out for you when you aren't looking out for yourself, or others. THAT is how much we care about each and every one of you. ™

Yikes. I'm a supervisor and would absolutely hate to have a subordinate like you. You are wasting your time and talents worried about her. Just do your job. It is a well-known fact technical people are usually not good managers. She may not understand (or care, frankly) about all of the intricacies of your technical area, but she shouldn't have to. That's why you are there. Her job is to manage, which I would imagine will be a tall order considering your attitude. Grow. Up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - hilarious, I am not a millennial! I am 45 and so is my "superior." I have advanced as far as I can in my area at this company. To advance further, I would have to leave. The woman I report to is purely management. I have to report to someone and she was assigned to me. Thank you for any good advice. To the others, well, glad you love your bosses!

I suspect they will say good riddance to you.

No, actually I am very valued. My issue is that the woman I report to offers nothing in her own right, I can't even bounce ideas off of her because she doesn't understand complicated situations.

If you have advanced as far as you can go, then it makes sense that your supervisor is the management type and not the technical type. If her position was technical, then that would be your next advancement.

At some point in the totem pole, the balance swings towards management and away from technical expertise. I rarely see top administrators who are still as technically sharp as they were 15 years ago.

Anonymous wrote:
Nope, just a young, ambitious, and competent millennial who is sick of seeing the dead weight all around me. If the boss is really stupid, then OP should have no problem getting rid of her. Otherwise, the boss is not as stupid as OP portrays her, and OP should learn a lesson.

Whoa, go over to that millennial thread and tear OP a new hole!

Look for a better job without this a$$hole as your manager. She just got lucky to get her job but does not have the knowledge to really know what she is doing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - hilarious, I am not a millennial! I am 45 and so is my "superior." I have advanced as far as I can in my area at this company. To advance further, I would have to leave. The woman I report to is purely management. I have to report to someone and she was assigned to me. Thank you for any good advice. To the others, well, glad you love your bosses!

I suspect they will say good riddance to you.

No, actually I am very valued. My issue is that the woman I report to offers nothing in her own right, I can't even bounce ideas off of her because she doesn't understand complicated situations.

Riiiiiiight.

What is with the seriously weird attitude on this board that all supervisors are great and that anyone who complains must be incompetent...?

+1 I think there must be a lot of supervisors who are shaking in their boots right now.

When they realize their subordinate is smarter than them.....yep and next thing you know, they're trying to fire that person.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - hilarious, I am not a millennial! I am 45 and so is my "superior." I have advanced as far as I can in my area at this company. To advance further, I would have to leave. The woman I report to is purely management. I have to report to someone and she was assigned to me. Thank you for any good advice. To the others, well, glad you love your bosses!

I suspect they will say good riddance to you.

No, actually I am very valued. My issue is that the woman I report to offers nothing in her own right, I can't even bounce ideas off of her because she doesn't understand complicated situations.

Riiiiiiight.

Yes, right.

+1000 I can honestly say out of all my supervisors, only 1 was competent. The rest were hired because they knew someone, not because they were qualified. My advice to you OP is to find another position especially if you can already tell getting promoted where you're at isn't likely going to happen.