BAD Manager - HELP!!!

litlbear1072 · #1 02-09-2005, 02:52 PM

I hope this isn't too confusing but here is my situation and I need help!!!

A few months ago I started a job in a completely different industry. I accepted the position because it sounded interesting but also because I ADORED the woman who interviewed me. Unfortunately, for reasons I'm still not completely clear on, she was let go 3 weeks after I started. Anyway, a new Sales Manager was finally hired and started in December. It's a very small office (3 people - Sales Manager, AE, and Admin. Asst.) His very first day here he came in, didn't ask a single question about the AE and myself (I'm the Admin. Asst.) and what our jobs entail. He, instead, looked at our sales boards and told us that we were doing it wrong (we were following the instructions of our General Manager. He also told the AE everything he can't stand in a person, which happened to be exactly what our AE is like. Our AE is well liked and trusted by ALL of our customers and well respected within the industry. This manager hasn't stepped up to the plate at all since he started except when we finally snap and vent to our General Manager and then she gets on his case. On top of all this he's just DUMB!!! He was cutting some board for a presentation and didn't even know what side of an exacto-knife was the blade!!! HELLO!!! The AE and I are desperate to get this guy out of here because we don't trust him. His actual response when the AE (we'll call her Sandy) confronted him on something was "Whatever Sandy," and then stormed off in to his office and called the General Manager. Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with a person like this???

RUgreek · #2 02-09-2005, 05:30 PM

Put some ex-lax in the coffee pot one day. Be sure to notify all co-workers to avoid the tainted coffee. You'll have him off your case for a day to discuss together what to do about him.

My opinion (and this is coming from a person you should not take advice in PC employment matters), but either confront this new manager and become the better person by asking him what you guys can do to help him. This does two things:

1. He won't be on the defensive and use a "Whatever Sandy " remark and exit the conversation.

2. He'll feel like his input is important and therefore will become interested in hearing your thoughts as you bring them up.

Of course he could also become annoying and not even give you a chance to talk to him, in which case I would search for better employment and grab a letter of recommendation before it's too late. Don't waste your time at a job you hate. Sucks that the cooler manager left the company.

RUgreek

litlbear1072 · #3 02-10-2005, 09:15 AM

In re-reading my original post it looks like I'm just a whiney (sp?) little kid. This is not really the case. The AE and I have legitimate reasons for disliking our manager. We've caught him in several lies to our general manager and nothing has been done. After the AE told him about a specific account she was working on getting he went out there and got the business himself. A week ago he told the AE that he would attend an event tonight of a local association and then yesterday said he was not going to be able to make it and asked her if she could go. When she said she had to do something for her daughter he asked her if she could not do that and go to the association event!!! Ok, so it probably still sounds like I'm whining but this guy has some major management issues.

CarolinaDG · #4 02-10-2005, 10:43 AM

You don't need to explain yourself. The thing is, I have a manager that tells me everything that I'm whining about is just normal entry-level stuff, but our office manager can't believe the way they're treating me. Unless you are in the situation, it's really hard to explain to someone on the outside.

litlbear1072 · #5 02-10-2005, 12:07 PM

It is definitely hard to explain this to anyone else. When the AE and I are discussing things they sound like legitimate concerns but when I start telling someone about it without going into deep detail it sounds like we are just being silly.

One of the things this guy does that concerns me about our office in general is that he expenses EVERYTHING, even things he shouldn't be expensing. He expensed a lunch with his wife, but told me that our general manager had been in town that day and he had lunch with her. I know for a FACT that she was not here that day.

I've brought my concerns up to the general manager, even being so honest with her that I told her if he'd been the person who interviewed me I never would have taken the job. She was very upset to hear this and talked to him about some stuff but it didn't do any good. Since it doesn't look like he's going anywhere it looks like it's just time for me to hit the classifieds again.

Why does it seem as though it's the good employees who end up giving up and management that, for lack of a better word, sucks keeps their cushy jobs???

James · #6 02-10-2005, 02:09 PM

It sounds like your previous office was too close. Too personal. Three women that liked each other a lot working together.

I wouldn't say you are whining, you sound like you are venting.

The thing is, what you are venting about is personal perceptions that normally would be immaterial to work matters.

You can hate your boss, what does that have to do with your job performance? Do you work less well if you had a personal conflict at home?

Some of the most successful people in the world are terrors to work for.

You need to focus on your own job performance and let the rest of it flow off your back.

You need to be less sensitive to the moods and behaviors of the people around you.

This is work. This is not a clique of friends, and a lot of what you are saying applies more to personal relationships.

I am trying to think how I would respond if I someone we hired came up to me and said, I joined the company cause I adored my last boss, I hate my new boss and it makes me unhappy . . . in fact I wouldn't have signed under this boss . . .

Your post screams: I am very inexperienced with life, and I have difficulty controlling my emotions. I am not trying to insult you with that, but beware thats how any experienced person is going to read your reactions.

That perception is not important here, but thats vital in the work place.

Many of us work come in on weekends. Many of us have cancelled important personal things for work related events on no notice. Many of us have worked with unpleasant people and just smiled. Many of us have watched others excercise privelages we don't have and maybe don't approve.

But we learn to soldier on. We learn that people have an extremely limited ability to affect us emotionally. We learn that we don't have to like the people we work with.

And most of all we learn to focus on our own work and improving it.

It is never an excuse to say that your work performance is suffering because . . . you don't like someone or the way they treat you.

And if your work performance is not suffering . . . your like or dislike is irrelevant.

UKDaisy · #7 02-11-2005, 03:46 AM

Girl, I understand your situation and completely understand your dislike for this person. *Sounds like a winner, lol.* And that this person is not likeable at all....

I just think it sucks b/c its dealing with work - which for the most part you have to put up with - b/c its work. In our dream world fortune 500 companies and all the Trump's of the world would replace this guy for a guy you love. But... alas, its work - and the Trump's don't care.

Honestly, try focusing on improving your personal job performance. If he sucks so bad, you can't perform your job under documented accounts.... then you need to be like "look...boss man...". But sadly, if he isn't...its one of those smiling situations b/c you have too. B/c if you don't - it looks like its your fault and that you are the one causing the problems.

Once again, the sad factor is that you and your co-worker hate this guy. But it doesn't mean its okay to give him that attitude that you want too. B/c what's worse is having your boss's boss fire you b/c who do you think he's doing to listen to more? No offense.

I was in a similar experience in retail, and I just sucked it up. But it got better, and b/c I got respect b/c of that. And my record has my boss quoting that.

Good luck...

PS. - Watch "a league of their own" with gena davis. remember how mean tom hanks was? one girl started crying - "there's no crying in baseball. There's no crying in baseball!!!" But the girls kept at it...

litlbear1072 · #8 02-11-2005, 08:57 AM

This is actually not just a matter of liking this guy or disliking this guy. It's a matter of trust since I've already seen him lie to the general manager and lie to my co-worker and myself. His integrity is in question here as well as his work quality.

If anything my job performance has improved since he started! I'm more on top of things because I know the general manager is going to come back and ask me to fix what he screwed up (this has already happened several times!!!).

I've come to the conclusion that this guy is just going to hang himself here at work so I'll keep up the good work on my end and wait to see how it all plays out.

AchtungBaby80 · #9 02-11-2005, 10:20 AM

Whoa. Sorry to hear about that. I can definitely sympathize with the crummy manager thing.

These kind of people usually trip themselves up without anyone's help, so I would just wait and watch. It sounds like it could be interesting.

Optimist Prime · #10 02-18-2005, 05:26 PM

complain to the GM

make list of complaints on computer and present that info as a re-presention

DGMarie · #11 02-18-2005, 06:30 PM

You're the admin assist? This is the secretary, correct? You are the low woman on the totem pole. My advice: stop running to the general manager everytime you have a conflict with your boss. It says you cannot handle the situation. It isn't your job to manage his integrity. Or his conscience. Document everything he asks you to do in writing. Don't fix mistakes he makes unless it is part of your job. You'll end up getting implicated in the mess.

If he's a louse to the core, you running to the head honcho isn't going to make him an angel. This guy got hired by the GM, correct? She saw something she liked in him.

Just ask yourself, who is easiest to replace in your office...

And James, excellent post.

Optimist Prime · #12 02-18-2005, 07:58 PM

Yes, James makes an excellent points/keen observations about the social interactions of women, which is remarkable for a hobbit with a vow of celebacy.

In regards to the real topic however, good adminstrative assitants are hard to find. Other words for admin. asst. are secretary and office manager. I won't go into etymology here but the point is, they are often the people that keep everything running. It's probably easier to find good managers with so many management majors graduation this year with good inter exp. and demonstrated leadership skills from extracuriculars. Good skills are hard to find.

indieallee · #13 03-03-2005, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Optimist Prime
In regards to the real topic however, good adminstrative assitants are hard to find. Other words for admin. asst. are secretary and office manager. I won't go into etymology here but the point is, they are often the people that keep everything running. It's probably easier to find good managers with so many management majors graduation this year with good inter exp. and demonstrated leadership skills from extracuriculars. Good skills are hard to find.

Exactly. What's the use of a good plate with nothing on it?

And definitely don't keep going all the way up to the GM if you have issues with this boss. You're just going to have to work it out by yourself. Let your performance speak louder than any complaint of, and any weakness of your boss.

Then come home, have a glass of wine (or whatever your vice is) and scream into a pillow. Vent.

Leben ist hart.

Optimist Prime · #14 03-04-2005, 05:32 PM

so auch is jeden Beruf.

every job you have, you will encounter certain types of people. Be thankful you have someone to complain to at all if needs be. There is no one above my imeditate supervisor (postions vacant) exept the executive officers of the company

litlbear1072 · #15 03-04-2005, 05:51 PM

The problems have been resolved so thank you to all who have responded. Time to bury the bad manager.......the subject of him that is