If you had to choose, would you rather work for a brilliant boss with extremely high standards and a sharp eye for detail, or a kind and supportive but ultimately mediocre one, assuming everything else are the same (comp, benefits, etc.)? I'd have picked the first when I was fresh out of school as I wanted to be pushed and grow as quickly as possible. At this stage of my career though, I'd choose the latter all day. Curious how others would choose.

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I would choose the latter. I have worked for both, and honestly, the first one stresses me out too much. There is something to be said for someone who is more laid back and chill.

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I get that. Being pushed hard can be motivating, but it can also be exhausting over time. There’s something really valuable about a calm, laid-back boss who doesn’t keep you on edge every day.

If I was towards the end of my career and wanted to cruise, the second. If I was trying to develop, definitely the first.

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I worked for a kind, mediocre manager in a large dept that was split up into several smaller teams. On my team, year after year no one ever got promoted, despite being deserving, but our mediocre manager didn’t put us forward for opportunities or push us to do things that we didn’t even know that individuals on other teams were pushed to do, and claimed he tried to vouch for us but his voice carried no weight compared to the managers on other teams who had higher standards and expected more from their team members.

That sounds really frustrating. It’s tough when you realize other teams are getting stretched and promoted while yours isn’t. I do think it’s worth saying that a mediocre manager doesn’t automatically mean they won’t advocate for their people. Some genuinely try at least based on my experience.

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I would say it's important to always avoid mediocre people. You tend to pick up the habits of the people you work with and for, and if you work for lackluster people you become one yourself.

That’s a fair point. I guess where I wrestle with it is whether “mediocre” always means you’ll lower your own bar, or whether a kind and stable environment can sometimes help you do your best work in a different way. I can see both sides, honestly.

Any day would rather the second option. It did not take me long in my career to realise this :D I am not looking to grow my career really fast though, so that works well for me!

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