On Design Approval and Intentional Flaws

The one thing I left out of the article is tackling the problem head on. This may not make sense with every manager, but it could be worth trying:

Adding an intentional flaw is not addressing the core problem. Consider talking to them directly, pointing out their behavior, and try to get them to only make valid changes. Not just to leave their mark on the design.

Like I said, this may not always work, but it is better for your long term relationship with your manager.

I often find that a simple way to make a manager feel like they have control and have made a good decision, is to make one version of something that is obviously inferior and one that you like. The manager can then exert his creative vision by choosing the good one. It is a bit of a risky play since there is a chance the manager could choose the terrible one :P

left this comment on the post:

Every problem is a people problem. Managing managers (stakeholders, whatever) is just the same. We "fixers" tend to think that what we're really doing is fixing a problem or building a new thing, but that's rarely how the people hiring us look at it. They're the star of their own show (just like we're the star of ours), and they are doing it for their own reasons. Often those reasons have to do with feeling good about their contribution, looking good at work, leaving a mark, as you say, or CYA, etc.

If you don't understand that, and don't want to deal with it, then being a consultant or employee is a bad career choice!