Finally

November 6th, 2009

Since telling my boss’ boss two weeks ago that I needed to talk, I finally got the chance. The last week of October was plantwide physical inventory and this week was the usual reporting rush.

Knowing that I was going to go over my boss’ head made me more blunt with him this week. Yesterday I sent him an e-mail wherein the entire e-mail said “Please have more confidence in me.” I got the word “please” in there but it really takes a lot more window-dressing to say something nicely. And he didn’t have any idea what I meant. I thought that when you’ve just reminded me for the third time to do something which every employee is required to do every year–and I am not yet late–that my meaning would be clear. But such assumptions are acid to communication.

I also sent him an e-mail this morning telling him that he doesn’t appreciate what we do when he just tells us to do better. When he asked if I wanted to talk about it I told him the team conference call would be a better time and he brought it up then. And of course he thought he makes it abundantly clear how much he appreciates everyone, and I tried to explain that it doesn’t matter how much you say “you’re great you’re wonderful” about nothing in particular if when you are actually making a request you just say “I need this ASAP” and don’t ask if it is possible or what other top priorities might be dashed to pieces in rushing to this new task.

Now the proof is in the pudding, as they say, and he will be on vacation until next Friday, so we will see what comes. But today’s call, with the whole team chipping in, went so much better than I have been dreading for two weeks, that I am glad I finally found some way to broach the abysmal communication gap.

I think it helped to talk to his boss earlier in the day and unload all of the different dysfunctions that have been piling up. It helped me keep more to the point when I was talking to my boss and not to dump everything all at once on Friday afternoon before he went on vacation.

And I am so glad it is Friday because I am sick and tired. I even said no to Friday night fun because I need to sleep more. Hibernation sounds good.