How can I effectively handle a boss who consistently takes on a lot of work and then dumps it on me last-minute, especially when I'm on business travel? Recently, he finalized a workshop date with a customer without consulting me or the team, leaving us with only three days to prepare instead of the needed three weeks. He had access to the team and could have leveraged their help, but his ways of working have alienated the entire team

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I had a boss like this, I tried to have a crucial conversation with him explaining the facts of being expected to do unreasonable tasks on top of a full workload. I told him how it seems proper planning is not taken into account, and asked him how he views these situations. He said we have to figure out a way to get things done. I suggested delegating to a team of people for maximum efficiency. This worked temporarily until he would change direction last minute. Then I would put the ball in his court about direction so if it failed, he would have to take ownership. Eventually I quit because he would deflect blame and gaslight everyone treating them as inadequate.

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If you find that you cannot influence these types of bosses to try new approaches and adjust how they can better support their team, no one is going to be able to change them. When you explain the consequences of potential actions to them and provide the best solutions, and they still don’t listen, you have to let them fail. If they treat people poorly after their plan fails, you should leave that boss immediately.

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and while others are fortunate not to report to him, I do. How can I manage this situation and protect my own professional well-being?

He took it on while I was on business travel and dumped it on me a day before the workshop. He is excusing himself out of the workshop saying he can’t add value and isn’t feeling well

How long have you been working with this person?

Seems like it’s going to be permanent. I have given him a full 3 months hoping he will settle down.

You have standards in every job, but the definition of "good" depends on the environment. Here you may need to define it as adapting and doing the best you can with the notice you have. For example, if it takes 3 weeks, can you decrease the scope of the workshop and make it part 1 of a series? Can you make it a working series? Can you leverage content from old presentations ? Or reschedule with the client and make some excuse?

Next, identify someone on the team to handle him when you're OOO going forward. Manage up by managing him and have coverage.

Also, you need to put down a paper trail to protect yourself and the team against gaslighting, selective memory, and performance issues. Document everything with email confirmations and keep as many people as you can on CC when communicating with him. You want lots of eyes and preferably more senior ones.

Start advocating for yourself and your team. Weekly status updates celebrating milestones and good outcomes. Kill them with good news.

Think about whether or not you can live with this role and decide quickly. If it's a no, start networking for the next position sooner than later. Don't waist time.

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