War with the boss

[tcpip]

As regular readers will know, I work for a high-performance and scientific computing centre. Half my time is seconded to provide collaborative service technologies to an Australian-wide and federally-funded group.

My manager in the later group is a problem. He is ignorant of the technology he manages, he is incompetent at actual management, and he uses the 'big dick' method of staff relations. Needless to say, this does not engender much respect for the tech staff he manages.

My last two quarterly reviews have expressed, in no uncertain terms, that I have been extremely good at responding to customers and pleasing to work with. In this one, the manager has decided there is a problem in this area - without providing any evidence of course - and has started waving his authority around.

I think it's the realisation that he's getting the push from higher up, so he's responding in kind. After all I am the sort of person who doesn't automatically give deference to a person just because they have 'manager' in their name, and I am also the sort of person who will say something or somebody is in error if they are. A manager should be able to take that.

In a nutshell, I'm going to war with my boss. Wish me luck.

Comments

Be sure you document and record EVERYTHING

[lucy-chronicles.livejournal.com]

In case the obvious isn't stated. you never know... and make sure you can communicate w/ him in writing or in front of other people to avoid the 'he-said/she-said' one on one problems which can't be proven.

good luck!

Re: Be sure you document and record EVERYTHING

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

*nods* Absolutely. The onus is on him to provide evidence of problems. I suspect it won't be forthcoming.

*sotto voce* At least going through the tickets will give him something to do.

[bdsmbarbie.livejournal.com]

My last 2 boss wars led to promotions. One was intentional...the other, purely by accident.

Good luck! (Hmm...maybe it's time for another boss war for me :D )

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

The fact I'm currently doing an MBA may have unintended consequences ;)

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

Best wishes. Lock 'n load!

[ytterbius.livejournal.com]

Good luck!

Make sure to have your spells fully memorized.

[amarafox.livejournal.com]

Seconding the documentation, and good luck!

Also, pimping this blog: http://positivesharing.com/

[silverblue.livejournal.com]

Hey, odd question, but given how I know YOU...how do you know Lev? :) Just being amused at the synchronicity.

[http://users.livejournal.com/raven_/]

Good luck.

[zeemverse.livejournal.com]

Rock on.

[stawberi.livejournal.com]

Good luck. I can't stand managers who don't realise they still have to earn your respect, one doesn't get it by default just by being a manager.

[catsidhe.livejournal.com]

Good luck, and break a leg!

Whose leg I leave to your judgement.

[roadriverrail.livejournal.com]

That's really sad. I'm slowly pondering bringing leadership into my career, and I have always believed that a leader should respect, learn from, and defend his/her subordinates. That's fundamentally their purpose.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

It's pretty ridiculous. It's just plausible (regrettably) that being an aggressive manager towards workers can work in some cases and places... But certainly not among the staff here.

[nvcarnie.livejournal.com]

Good luck!!!! :-D

[zey.livejournal.com]

I'm usually one to say: Never do battle with your boss; even if you win, you lose. (ie: even if you win on technical merits and logic, they'll make your life hell for it later.)

However, if he's already on the outer, and knowing you I'm sure you're held in high regard and respected there, it sounds like you'll have a very good chance of winning this round. Best of luck with it :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm going to have to be very strategic and incremental in this war. Work on the edges and let him fall on his own sword.

[sianmink.livejournal.com]

At my last job, I got a bad review from a 'manager' who we got dumped onto, while he had many other things on the table. He spoke not a word to us for 9 months before giving us all bad reviews, based on who knows what, cause he didn't even know what we were supposed to do.

Good luck.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

That's ... fucked up. Really fucked up.

[n2kaja.livejournal.com]

May the Gods be with you,
or so much less dramatic "Good Luck" ;)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... Mars would be a good one.

[celsa.livejournal.com]

I hope things go as you wish.

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

If your boss is in fact a devilbunny, as a retired rogue non-AoFer I can train you in hand-to-claw combat. If not, I can't help you much. I hope you score a quick knockout, but even if he's George Chuvalo, hang in there because you can still win on scorecards.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

With rabbits named 'Astaroth' and 'Murmur', you'd probably pick me as a devilbunny symp.

[severina-242.livejournal.com]

Wanker. Sounds like he uses the big dick method to compensate for his, errr, shortcomings....

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Well, he doesn't have anything else but that power...

[antayla.livejournal.com]

It's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it.
I end up being the one who stands up to annoying bosses too :P.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Many people have made the grumbling remarks but the documentation collection process is just beginning..

This is going to be a strategic war of attrition..

[kremmen.livejournal.com]

I think it's the boss we should be wishing luck to.

... he'll need it. :)

[arcadiagt5.livejournal.com]

...and it won't help him. :)

[madame-mage.livejournal.com]

Goddamn, some people DO rise to the level of their incompetence don't they?

more than wishing you luck I will wish you opportunity to skillfully dodge the bullshit with a smile on your face.

when does this happy meeting take place?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Meeting was yesterday afternoon :)

And yes, yes, they do.

[discordia13.livejournal.com]

Ah boss wars. The last boss war I participated in was just over two years ago. It Involved "Greasy Haired Manager" accusing me of sexually harassing him, and then him being subsequently fired two days later for abusing the company directors. I collected his laptop as a trophy.

Good times.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Nice.... I bet every day you used the laptop it could generate a satisfied smile...

[fluffyblanket.livejournal.com]

Good for you - I hope you win the war !

[niamh-sage.livejournal.com]

Best of luck! My husband is engaged in a similar war with his superiors at the moment (non-specific criticism, refusing to enlighten him as to details of where he purportedly went wrong, being more interested in whingeing than in solving the problem, etc.), so I know how that sucks. As someone else said upthread, document everything (including the good stuff). It tends to wipe the smug looks off their faces if you can produce names and dates.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Show him this:

http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2008-07-17/

[arcadiagt5.livejournal.com]

As many others have said above:

1. Document everything.
2. Good luck.
3. Have fun turning him into a pinata. :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Yeah the documentation process has started... and there's quite a fair bit that can be used..

[jahbulon.livejournal.com]

Good luck.