I have a manager with whom it is almost impossible to establish any kind of connection or communication. Despite all my efforts, communication with him is very poor. He doesn't really have time to communicate at all because he always has "something more important" to do. And now, in the end, I got criticized for not “following the chain of command” to the extent that this is expected. I am under tremendous stress because I feel unfairly criticized for something that is not my fault at all. Has anyone been in a similar situation?
7 replies (most recent on top)
@1tpq+1dufEL5I indeed. Because if you're anything like the people in my area, you all the same question every day to look busy to your superior, when you know the answer or are too fu----g stupid to remember.
Following up for guidance and/or an answer to a question makes me an as----e? Thanks for identifying yourself as a worthless employee.
@1nww+1dufEL5I this just makes you look like an as----e or a "c u next Tuesday". Go ahead, copy my manager, they're too busy for your bu-----t too, Karen/Kevin.
If it's important, I'll respond quickly, otherwise, you're probably wasting my time to look busy or trying to pin something in me to cover your own a-s, which will get you ignored.
This is what I do. First email goes out. If no response in a reasonable amount of time, which can vary from a day or two to a week depending on what's going on, then I forward that same email to the person with "Second Request" added to the subject line. If that does't get a response in 24-48 hours, third email gets forwarded with "Third Request" in the subject line and a copy to their manager. Believe me it's amazing how I miraculously hear back from people within 5-10 minutes when I do this.
It's sad that you have to treat some of these people like children, but that's the way it is. Document, document and document your actions, but balance that with enough patience to clearly give them time to respond, otherwise it's going to look like you're jumping the chain of command and you'll look like a jerk.
If you want to add some more spice to your communications, add things like "Following up from the voicemail I left you earlier" or "Following up from my IM's in Teams earlier". Don't only ever email people, that is just one of the tools you have to communicate with your colleagues.
Facts don't care about your feelings. Do you have an established paper trail that your manager deliberately ingores your requests forcing you to go above their head?
If so bring that to your RCLs attention. If not stop complaining about it here and brush up on your resume.
switch to emails with your manager
Seriously? Do you think this is a " Dear Abby " site? LMAO!