Work related: What should I do?
Currently, I love my job. It’s for a small company (fewer than 50 people in 2 offices), and it’s exactly what I love to do.
I work in the marketing department, meaning all 3 of us (the designer, the web master and communications specialist) have to get our work edited and approved by our lead/manger before moving on to the next approval stage. It’s complicated and stressful, but whatever. It works for the company.
Now, I love the lead/manager…as a person. She and I have quite a bit in common, but as a manager she’s awful, especially now.
Her husband opened a business about 4 months ago, and it’s not doing so well. It’s a luxury service in a poor economy, meaning that it’s REALLY not too well. In fact, she spends the majority of the time at HER job doing stuff for HIS work.
I really could care less, until she criticizes me for neglecting to get things edited (despite the fact it’s been in her box for 8 days). She takes 2-3 hour lunches, takes a vacation day at least once a month, and has her door closed for hours on end, making it impossible for us to reach her by phone, email or person because she’s working on her husband’s work stuff.
Annoying.
Now it’s hitting the wall for me. She never communicated well before, but now it’s even worse than before. I’m being scolded because I don’t know what’s going on, and when I try to ask what’s going on, I’m again scolded for not being in the loop.
Like I said, for being a manager, she’s awful.
She also has a tendancy to retract her decision. Let’s say that she decides that we go live with a new marketing campaign next week. When the time comes and I ask her if we’re ready, she basically chews me out for doing something so idiotic. If I point out that she was the one to give us the go-ahead, she says I’m lying.
Things are just not getting edited and approved. I’ve been yelled at for reminding her. I’ve been yelled at for not reminding her.
I don’t know what to do at this point. This is such a small company that we don’t have an HR office, and what’s worse is that her boss is the head of the company. If I were to go to him, I would be the whistle blower and make the entire department uncomfortable.
Should I just grit my teeth and get on with my work, or is this something that should be dealt with head-on? Any advice?
Example of being out of the loop:
I’m in charge of banner ads and created the necessary information for one to send to our designer. She sent one back saying this was for the newsletter, except I had never heard anything more than a banner ad for a website. What newsletter?
I go to the lead, and she gives me the classic “you’re an idiot” stare and tells me I’m slacking and should be in on what’s going on.
However, I didn’t receive any notification. No emails. No words that were passed on. Just an empty expectation.
Thanks to you all – I’m just going to let it chill for awhile.
I should mention that I don’t go to Y!A while at work. I posted this question in the evenin and am responding 2 minutes before I officially “start” my day.
Have you talked to the other people who report to the same lead? Do they also have a problem getting the correct information, if so, then maybe you could join forces and approach the head of the company. If you are in this alone, then I would try to catch her when her door is open and force her to communicate by telling her that such and such a project is going forward, and you wanted to double check when it will be submitted for the newsletter… try to make sure you’re on the same page before you are blind sided. It doesn’t sound like a good situation and isn’t fair to you at all, but other than trying to force more communication, I don’t think there is a lot you can do. If you confront her head on, she sounds like she might be very vindictive and you will need to be prepared for that, it could get very hot in the kitchen.
Hello there..
this is quite a simple problem which is very common in all offices.. remember that the manager is always right even if he or she is an idiot and doesnt know what they are doing..
since your at the lower end of the hierarchy.. for the moment you will have to grit your teeth and get the job done.. but to make yourself feel better and stronger, you will need to start working smart and not break your head over whats happening around you..
i face a similar situation and i realised that its my problem and not the managers problem to get the work done.. coz end of the day the finger gets pointed at people like us.. for the simple reason we are at the lower and receiving end of the hierarchy..
You said your manager always comments saying you lied.. in this case.. start documenting any approvals or requests you have with the manager.. start doing an email kinda thing.. send an email requesting approval or for any kind of tasks which you thing will need some kind of back up to support ur stand on the case.. that way.. at any point of time you have an email clearly stating he has asked you to do whatever assigned tasks and your not lying.. so she cant point fingers at you..
every time a task is given, try to find out what that task is leading to.. and what best you can do to get it done well and beyond their expectation.. this way.. your making them feel confident about you and your improving on your own skills.. helping you work faster, multi tasking, improves your thinking capacity and analytical skills..
dont care about what people may say or express about you being an idiot.. coz if u take that to heart.. u’ll suffer and never grow.. instead take it as an opportunity to learn more and to improve yourself..
i can suggest you to watch a movie called “the devil wears prada”.. the new assistant who joins the fashion company faces the same trials as yours.. and later masters her job.. watch it and u’ll get a clearer picture of what i mean..
all the best for you and im sure you’ll do well.. just believe in yourself and dont give up on anything.. everyday is a challenge.. live it well and win..
DO NOT TRY TO REVOLT AGAINST YOUR MANAGERS AS THAT WILL ONLY SPOIL YOUR WORK MORE AND U WILL LOSE THE TITLE OF BEING A PROFESSIONAL.. INSTEAD TRY AND BE DIPLOMATIC AND U’LL GROW BIG IN YOUR WORK..
if you are exp designer …you can switch job easily ….
btw whats the BIG difference if the banner is for website or newsletter ??
it does not take much time to change. and
YOU SHOULD ASK questions abt YOUR work..
i was not informed is poor excuse….keep talking with team members..
before rushing to do the job…..women in IT are in difficult situation sometimes…thier awareness abt things is less the male staff….its a fact….coz they have less time in hand …have family and cant give more hours than IT industry demands ….
do u spend ur office hours giving time to yahoo answers ..to earn silly points!!!???
LOL sorry for giving completely different view ….i am just asking u to think abt the problem again ..