[BC] Dealing with the brain challeged

[Bill Brister]

I agree completely. 

I have noticed an interesting thing over my years in broadcast engineering.
Some organizations philosophy is that the person that has the most technical
knowledge is best prepared to be a Chief Engineer even though he has
abominable social and interpersonal skills. Other organizations seem to
think that a Chief Engineer should be a social and organizational type even
though he has minimum engineering knowledge. I think that all depends on the
attitude and thinking of the General Management and the quality of engineers
they hire. If management is technically orientated then the former may work
for them. If they are not the latter is probably the best way.

I have always believed that the operating attitude of any staff of people,
broadcasting or not, is directly connected with the attitude, knowledge and
skills of the General Management.

Bill

If some engineers seem relegated to the back room, etc., then a little bit
of basic interpersonal skills would go a long way. Such as, the engineer
making his rounds and asking other people about their work; people love
talking about themselves. That is not a bad thing.

People by nature are social We bounce pack and fourth between autonomy and
social interaction we can't live without either one. So it could be that
other people around the station don't know how to even start a conversation
with an engineer without it beginning with an equipment complaint.

It's not a matter of fitting in. It's more a question of whether or not we
care to interrelate with others on a level of commonality.

Jeff Glass
Northern Illinois University

>say this after 39 years as an engineer in both radio and TV. I have 
>felt the situation above personally at times too. Even so, sometime 
>people tend to forget that they are part of a team effort and this kind 
>of thing happens. I'm sure it can happen in other departments too.

>Bill