As with everything else - It Depends.

Sometimes with weak managers, I find myself becoming the defacto manager of myself. I make the priorities, defend myself and teammates, and, if necessary, go around the manager to get those priorities needed to make the project successful. Would I prefer a strong manager? Absolutely. But, I would guess for most of us, the job/project at hand is most important and career comes next. We adapt to make the project successful, which helps our careers, of course. And as much as that may mean learning new technology and stepping out in areas we are not 100% comfortable with, it may also mean learning to navigate an odd political landscape.

Thoughts?