Hello People Managers, Need some advice. How do you handle a direct report if he/she gives bloated LOEs and pushes back on assignments. This person also reached out to skip level bosses and twisted conversation from 1-1. Back handed comments are pretty common. Some of other team members have complained as well. Want to be empathetic leader but patience is not working.

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

don't bring your skip level into this unless you want to make it worse. you will look weak. you have to figure out why your team member feels this way.. maybe they feel unfairly treated? maybe they were up for a promotion and feel it was given to someone else via favourtism? perception is everything. if you don't address this alone, you will lose power.

like

Great point. Have been mulling over it. Thankyou for the great insight!

There’s so much to unpack here. Better to unpack with the employee first:

1) Bloated LOE - Need to understand why LOE is higher than your expectation? Does the person have ADHD and it’s hard to focus? Is it a process issues and that will help the person become more efficient? Are personnel (agency, client, team members) causing obstacles? Is it tasks the person hates so it’s not prioritized? Is this person carrying the load of tasks that linger? Some tasks take multiple steps/interactions, dependencies and it can be draining when you constantly have multiple projects like this. Maybe it’s an up-skill opportunity (process, hard skill: excel, etc).

2) Skip-Level: Document the challenges with dates. Offer help to the employee to create efficiencies with process and ways of working with tangible examples. If that doesn’t help than ask “what’s really the issue with the delay?” Approach from another angle. Document the employees feedback.

3) Back handed comments: Is the employee aware this is potentially a perception? Can you be transparent about specific situations? Work on the not only “what” the person says, but “how” they say it. Encourage them to say, “help me understand” and phrases that lead with empathy first when asking questions/comments so it’s not challenging. Teach them the framework. If they comment on things that are outside of their R&R, then discuss how this is a distraction.

Leading with empathy starts with understanding and creating safe spaces first. Escalating is a last resort because you will look weak and can’t develop your team. Your job is to be a coach/player for your team at the end of the day.

like

Hi, It's better you discuss with the skip level boss along with the employee to make it clear,unless and until you see the employee will change the plate again.

Thankyou. Good idea. Agreed.

I recently experienced this and it was with an unqualified from a senior leaders network. She understood the task and would be disruptive to deflect.

What are LOEs?

Related Posts

Got an offer for SE III at a large tech company. Product I'd be working on interests me and I think I could grow more than in my current role.

Currently I make 180k base and have ISO/RSUs @ startup (60k/yr worth on paper, but won't be worth anything for a few years, if at all).

The offer is:
Base: $166,500
Target Bonus: 10% ($16,650)
RSU: 120k total (30k/yr)

Thoughts on offer? Should I counter?

Additionally there's a yearly target RSU bonus about equal to the cash bonus. Thoughts? 4.5 YOE

like

What's a good Software Engineering salary in Stockholm, Sweden?
I am currently making a bit more than 40k/year, and I have gotten extremely mixed information about whether it's a good salary or not

More info:
-I am under 20 years old and self taught, but I work on-par with the rest of the team (all of them except me have degrees ranging from master's to PhD), I don't know how much the other team components make
-I work with embedded software development with mostly C and C++

like

Any openings for Opentext Documentum profile at pune location ? Can join by 11th August.

like
like
like
like

Hello!
I am new here and would love to get some likes, so I can DM people. Thanks :)

likeuplifting

I want to emphasize in my resume that I defend major corporate entities, including Fortune 500 companies. What is the best way to word this on a resume (without sounding obnoxious)?

like

Anyone watch the mayoral debate last night? Reading the recap, it seems like it wasn’t that interesting

like

Anyone willing to share what WLB looks like at some of the large CROs?

like

Don't miss out 3rd Annual Dementia Congress 2023 on May 22-23, 2023! Recommended by Ruth Finch at 2022 NPA Annual Conference via Whova event app

like

I’m so glad this bowl finally exists.

like

As a first year - if you like working with a particular partner a lot, is it a good idea to just volunteer for all the work they have for you to do, or is it better to try to get a balance of different work from the practice group? Not trying to come off like Incrediboy.

like

I can’t be the only person who is thrilled they are banning “emotional support” animals from the cabin of a plane.

like

Okay finance lawyers. I don't understand this issue. Client says books show we're highly profitable but we have no way to pay our tax liability.... Well where the hell did tbe money go ? Client also claims that they are only taking a small portion of the revenue as profit. I don't understand how your books can be different than reality.

like

Anyone have any tips to transitioning from CRC to CRA? Is a CCRC necessary for leveling up?

like

Can anyone from FTI speak to their benefits? 401k match, healthcare, etc?

like

I have a sneaky suspicion a lot of these interesting links from ‘Art Director’ is one person...or an impressive Art Director Collective - either way, these are great - thank you.

likefunny

Consultants, would you join the Fed is given the opportunity?

like

Any recs on women’s luxury brand sneakers?

like

Additional Posts in People Managers

I have issues “delegating” or simply assigning tasks, which as a Manager is a whole thing. Like I feel “bad” asking my people to do things that i know i can do but shouldn’t because it’s not up to me. When I assign a task i try to be super clear with instructions, give examples, help them get started…but I still feel bad. Idk. Anyone goes through this?

like

I got into Management a year ago and now I miss developing. How do software engineers turned managers feel about their switch over to people management?

We interviewed a great candidate, extended a verbal offer and she accepted. We sent the written offer a few days ago but she hasn’t opened it or accepted (it’s expiring tomorrow). Have you ever had to follow up? How did you handle it? My company is small with no HR, so I have to handle the hiring myself.

What was your salary as a first time manager (and where were you based)?

like

Anyone have suggestions on a team building exercise or consultant/coaching to build/improve energy. I feel 2020 was such a big drain on everyone’s energy and spirit just looking for ways to start the year out on a more positive note. TIA

like

It feels very telling that there are so few people in this group. Any thoughts on that? It feels like the vast majority of people managers only want the title and don’t want to worry about their people.

likesmart

Any books suggestions?

like

A report opened to me that they are having money problems and wants a raise. We are remote and they moved to a high CoL city. We gave an increase to help with retention 6mths ago. In my response, I helped mentor with best practices on how to ask for a raise professionally since I need to make a case to my Head on finances. But their performance has been avg and not seemingly worthy of another large raise within a short period of time. But how do I respond when they talk about personal finances?

like

I have a direct report who is smart, passionate about her job and can be really innovative. However she carries this enormous weight of responsibility, for needing to do everything, do it right, make sure it's perfect, not trusting colleagues to help. It creates dread and panic and overwhelming workload and a terrible attitude for her and I am speaking with her this week to start to shift her mindset. Any tips in navigating how to let go of this heavy idea of "responsibility"?

likehelpful

One of my top talents just put in his two weeks notice and I had nothing to offer him to stay. I told upper management this was going to happen! I’ve spent months asking for a promotion for him, trying to push his career forward and got no traction. I know i did my best. He knows i tried. I still believe i work at a good place but i feel like we’re losing focus. I feel my boss is leaving soon. It’s a mess.

like

What is your toughest challenge hiring someone in their early 20’s?
For lots of different reasons I get the impression that younger people aren’t equipped for the employer, employee relationship.

like

Looking to apply for a manager role in my CS team. Any tips for the interview?

4 years of CS experience, no management experience

Whats your biggest challenge as a manager?

What do you enjoy most?

How do you manage your friends/people who used to be in your team?

Any interview tips appreciated! Last time failed the interview cause did not show a proper action plan. Find it tough as I do not know what challenges my manager has

like

Looking for info about the engineering culture at Netflix from the perspective of someone who identifies as a woman or non-binary person and is also a person of color. Do you feel safe and included? Would also love some input from someone in a leadership position, do you feel supported as a leader?

like

Hi. People Manager here. I've been one for 12 years now and I encourage my team to not be "yes" people. At this time, it feels like my manager wants me and my team to be yes people for her. How do I deal with this? I've never been a yes person and I don't preach this to my reports. I don't know what to do. Help?

Newer manager here (18 moths). Recent org announcements and hiring holds have put major stress on my team. Some are hyper focused on all the bad, how do I get buy-in that this is temporary and we still have a job to do? I feel it’s more important than ever to show value vs being task takers.

like

For the past 25+ years, I've been a devops engineer, cloud architect and team lead on many projects. I would like to make a career move into IT Management (i.e. DevOps Manager, Director of Cloud Ops, etc.). When it comes to skills needed, what should my focus be on and how would that translate onto a resume? I would love to still be hands-on to utilize my tech knowledge.

like

You're a new manager with direct reports. One of your directs is very determined. You consider yourself a good manager so you want to help them grow. They are killing it and taking on an enormous of workload, and executing flawlessly. Do you let them continue killing it? Ask how they're doing? Or warn/advise them on how to avoid burnout?

like

Does anyone else just not even want to be a people manager anymore?! The amount of work this is taking, I’m just so over it. In addition to them piling on my work (which is a full time job) the people management stuff is just as much a full time job that no one in management seems to take into account. I have tried countless times to explain this but I end up burnt out, everyone suffers including me. I just left one role bc of it and now this new role, same thing. I’m over it.

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal