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“i just fell asleep in the elevator”
“I just want to see her cry” — People! Wtf!
“Chatroulette, but for apartment peepholes."
"She's like 30, but doesn't look super old"
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For people like him, I make sure to memorialize requests by sending an email after each request, detailing the ask and your course of action. If he comes back later saying things didn’t work, then I’d refer to that email.
Putting this one in the playbook. Thanks !
Documentation is key here. Any time he give you direction or assignment, take notes, the send him a follow up of action items. This helps with 1) alignment on expectation and 2) you have paper trail if the issues is ever escalated to PIP or worse. In other words, CYA!
Echoing what others have said, I think it’s important to not only read the notes back at the end but to actually send an email detailing your understanding of each ask. This 1) gives another opportunity to avoid any misunderstanding (sometimes people communicate better in one form or the other), and 2) gives you solid proof of agreement on the ask in case your manager changes it later
Is he doing this publicly? Seems like he might be setting you up to take the fall for something. Next step is probably a PIP and then termination. I'd start looking for jobs.
It sounds like they know something isn't working which is a victory in itself. So much worse if they are disappointed and never say anything until its too late. And take a breath, this is so common that we have pictures to explain the phenomenon. Maybe suggest that the both of you spend some time researching some ways to effectively "paint the picture".
It is embarrassing and frustrating to be in that position. I hope you can take the situation as more of a learning opportunity than a shameful experience.
If you haven’t already, ask about what was wrong with the previous two deliverables. If it is something that could have been interpreted multiple ways, you’ll know to ask clarifying questions in the future.
Going forward, get any asks in writing. Ask your boss to email it or you send a follow-up email after the meeting with the action items detailed.
Don’t be afraid to bounce questions or ideas off of other teammates who may have done similar asks in the past.
Good luck!
If I can offer a word of advice, right and wrong aren’t mutually exclusive. Your boss may truly not be the best communicator, and that sucks. How do you handle clients who communicate poorly? How do you think your boss might describe their frustration at not getting what they’ve asked for? What else can you do to meet your boss where they’re at and learn a new way of communicating?
Perhaps worth noting, I’ve also gotten into a habit of sending in progress drafts or pulling the asker in for a quick preview just to gauge direction early on. It’s saved me quite a bit of wasted effort.
It's not looking good. Sounds like a termination is on the horizon. I'd advise you to let the game play out but start prepping. Get your resume up to date, secure references, contact friends and recruiters and be ready to move on. IMHO, this place sounds toxic. You're gonna be better off somewhere else. Good luck!
Write the acceptance criteria next time with your boss.
Good news! He reached out and things are good!
Start creating your file. Keep it on your personal equipment and not on corporate computer.
After receiving a request email back the name of the request, the understanding of what is being asked for, and how you expect to provide that result along with timeframe to do so.
If timeframe is longer than 3 days, then each Friday send a summary of all tasks assigned to you and status as you proceed. If boss says you don't need to send one, then send it to yourself and copy boss. All saved in your personal file.
When task is complete you provide results and any variation from expected steps in email. And save that document in your personal file.
When asked to come to human resources, bring your file. Boss won't have one unless pulls the notes you created.
May not keep your job, but you will get a better severance offer if you are terminated.
Consider the conviction with which you believe the boss is an idiot, the infallible 23 year old with his or her year of experience indeed knows all, and this person has never been able to work with anyone despite being the boss, and the boss is 100% in the wrong.
I mean, the OP is also a manager, so....
Send a draft for directional alignment in email before you complete the task. I also use to make several versions/ visuals demonstrating the same thing…
A bit annoying but set up a tracker with pretty detailed outlines of project milestones you plan to tackle and what they entail to make sure you are both aligned.
It’s key to have it recorded so if things change later you can reference why you were doing g x y and z.
I actually quit my last job when the CEO at the company called me out for not delivering in front of senior management when I was ahead of schedule on a timeline he agreed to.
Hope it won’t come to that but it will at least keep you sane.
I previously had a very demanding CEO that no matter what I did for about 3 months, he was never happy with the way I did it. It got to the point where I had him review emails and deliverables ahead of sending them to customers. Looking back at this experience, he was correct and my skill set wasn't as polished as I perceived at the time. This may not be the case for you, but try to proceed with humility and respond back to requests in your own words to make sure you're on the same page. It might help!
In school, I learned something.
Do not leave the board room until you are clear on each point- your silence is taken as agreement.
Ageism is a thing- call it out .
And in this case, call a meeting. Start by explaining how important your success is with him.
Show him your notes of what t
You gathered from the last two weeks. Let him SEE what you thought. And then do not leave until you are able to clearly list, draw and agree what your next steps are, and when they are due.
Because it will be written, you will be assured that mutual agreements.
And I will also say- look for a new job. A good boss will praise in public and punish you in private. Not vs verse, like thi guy is doing
This guy sounds like an egotistical moron. Get out of there and find somewhere your valued!! Life is too short to have to adapt your working style to people like this.
Been in the same boat. Got a below average rating the next month. Then was advised to look for another team.
Sit down with him/her & figure out where the disconnect is. If you don’t, it will only get worse.
Next time he pulls that, have your receipts and call out that you took notes sent him followups and executed exactly what is asked. tell him there seems to be a disconnect between his vision and what he actually communicates and requests.
Like the person below said, you are being set up. Document every single thing. Start circulating your resume. Go to HR. And there is GD of course. If he does put you on a PIP or fires you, name the company.
Ask if you can record your next communication to make sure that what’s asked for and what is delivered is the same
I know this is prob illegal, but record him if it’s a call. If it’s email, show him what he asked then show him what you did. Next time he asks something, ask for clarity so you know EXACTLY what he wants. Sorry you’re going through that…
It is illegal in many states. In my state. I did it anyway so I’d have a record of the lies and manipulations if I ever needed them. She of course had no idea I was recording. I was more concerned she was trying to find a way to fire me. I managed to find a much better job elsewhere and all but one person from my dept has left since.