[8n4vidtmkvmk]

because we have nothing else to say. we don't need any help from you, the manager. the project is going fine, but you're our least helpful resource. I'll go to the subject matter expert if i need specific things answered. I'm not fighting with any teammates. I'm not blocked. i was perfectly productive before this meeting, but now I'm interrupted. we already talked about career development. we don't need to go over that every week. really, I've got nothing. maybe once in awhile I'll get miffed at a teammate that doesn't see my point of view but even then i don't expect a manager to do much. they're not keen on taking sides. that's not to say i think my manager is useless. they're great, and i was much happier once i realized they basically work for me than i do for them. they're here to help and that's lovely, but aside from escalating cross team requests here and there, i really don't need much.

[rramadass]

Bingo! This is the best i have read all week.

You will love this HBR article : https://hbr.org/2011/12/first-lets-fire-all-the-managers

[jarl-ragnar]

Great article, the intro captures the core reasons why I recently quit as an engineering manager at a multi-national aerospace company. It also rather succinctly underlines how Boeing end up with the 737 Max situation.

[rramadass]

The author of the article Gary Hamel, has written a book elaborating on the theme named, Humanocracy: Creating Organizations as Amazing as the People Inside Them which you may find useful.

Also see Management: A Political Activity by Ted Stephenson.

[darkerside]

If I were your manager, I'd then be using the time to try to get to know you on a personal level. Hobbies, weekends, family, etc. I'm sure this comes off as prying in an internet comment, but that's because I don't know you. It's completely natural to want to get to know the people around you in person. Sometimes that might mean I need to start telling you about myself to signal that it's ok to get personal.

If you don't do this, it becomes a transactional relationship, which is OK, but to me holds less potential than one based on mutual trust and understanding.

[shinryuu]

Pretty much this!