Career Advice – Dealing with a Boss

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  • #177979
    meli083
    Member

    My boss is very forgetful sometimes. Especially when it comes to giving orders. Last week, she told me to hold off on doing a project. Well, I just now got an email asking me if I finished the project.

    This is extremely annoying. The implied blame is on me now. Ideally, I’d like to say: Per your instructions, I put it on hold but I can work on that now and complete it soon.

    Please help because this is driving me crazy. This happens at least once a week.

    AUD: 2/28/2013 - 86
    FAR: 10/19/2013 - 83
    REG: 1/6/2014 - 80
    BEC: 2/27/2014 - 81

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)
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  • #423603
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Does she give you the directions, too, via email? It's sure to create some drama, but I'd say you probably need to say something like what you wrote there. “I put that on hold as you requested, but I would could have it completed soon”. Unless you want to always take the blame for it, you kinda have to clarify that she told you to do the opposite, while also trying to be friendly and willing to do the work…and I think what you wrote does that as well as it can be done.

    #423604
    lyzgrace
    Member

    I don't think there's anything wrong with that response. I would even include the email she sent with those instructions, if there is one.

    If this is a recurring problem I would probably try to get as much via email as possible. If she makes another one of those “wait for further instructions” comments I would say something like, “Okay, thanks, will do. Could you shoot me an email with that so I don't forget/so I can follow up?” If emails don't work just take notes on EVERYTHING. Keep a running log of your interactions with her throughout the day. I keep one in a little spiral binder, but it's because I forget stuff myself, my boss is generally on top of things XD

    AUD: 82
    FAR: 78
    BEC: 75
    REG: 8/1 score release!!

    #423605
    MintsRGood
    Participant

    Step one: send a polite but passive aggressive email to the tune of “After our conversation about XYZ project last week, I put it on hold per your request. I will start XYZ project first thing tomorrow morning and will be sure to keep you in the loop as to the completion time! Are there any other projects that we've put on hold that you would like me to put on the calendar after XYZ project is complete? I want to make sure that all of our projects have a definite start time so nothing is missed in the future. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to assist you in scheduling future projects; I'm happy to help. Thanks!”

    Step two: print your polite passive aggressive email and put it in a file called “my boss is an idiot” so if/when performance review time comes around and you get a comment like “meli083 has issues meeting deadlines” you can stick these in HR's face and reply that you boss has trouble managing her time and is unpredictable. 😉

    Good luck!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

    REG: 75 DONE 🙂
    AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
    BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
    FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
    Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
    -Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
    -The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
    -You better work, b***h!
    -Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

    #423606
    ruggercpa2b
    Participant

    I had a manager like that once and each time she came over to my desk or called me and said anything regarding a project I would always send a follow up email asking her to verify that that was indeed what she wanted me to do just so I had evidence. The reason why I documented everything was because she had mentioned that my turn around time on projects neeeded to improve but it was not my fault but hers for telling me to hold off on some things and then ask me to send her the work I had.

    AUD - NINJA in Training
    BEC - NINJA in Training
    FAR - NINJA in Training
    REG - NINJA in Training
    AUD - 1/6/18
    FAR - TBD
    REG - TBD
    BEC - TBD

    AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
    BEC - 8/20/2016
    REG - TBD
    FAR - TBD

    I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

    #423607
    meli083
    Member

    Wow, really good, quick responses. Especially MintsRGood. This is just getting out of hand. I'm going to send an email to her after every order to confirm what she's instructed.

    AUD: 2/28/2013 - 86
    FAR: 10/19/2013 - 83
    REG: 1/6/2014 - 80
    BEC: 2/27/2014 - 81

    #423608
    Gerg, CPA
    Participant

    i wouldnt suggest sending passive aggressive emails to your boss

    FAR - 1/26/2012 - PASSED (78, but Lost credit), re-do 11/27/2013 - PASSED (87)!
    AUD - EPIC FAIL, 71, 69; 68; 5/25/2013 - PASSED (85)!
    REG - 10/1/2012 - 72; 7/1/2013 - 73 UGH, 10/1/2013 - PASSED (85)!
    BEC - 2/28/2013 - PASSED (82)!
    Licensed CPA!

    Used Becker self-study materials (just this for FAR original & REG #1), WileyTestBank, NINJA notes/audio, and Roger cram course for AUD #5, REG #3 & FAR reboot. CPA!

    #423609
    memmy29
    Participant

    Documentation is key!

    AUD - 84
    BEC - 84
    FAR - 77
    REG - 75
    So glad to be done!

    "If you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill

    AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

    Licensed CPA

    CIA Exam
    Part 1 - Passed
    Part 2 - Passed
    Part 3 - Passed

    #423610
    MintsRGood
    Participant

    Step 3: If step 2 comes to fruition…You must mention to HR what a nice lady your boss is so you don't look b*tchy… but mention that she is SO overworked and is spread SO thin…no wonder she can't keep track of her deadlines! 😉 Then state how you would be ready to rise to the challenge of increased responsibilities and have tons of ideas of how to implement timelines, work plans, etc. to improve the workflow in your department and increase the timeliness of project completion…again because your boss is SO busy and you are a team player! See, aren't you nice?!?!? 😉

    Step 4: Take her job and make more money doing it your way.

    Step 5: You win. 🙂

    REG: 75 DONE 🙂
    AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
    BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
    FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
    Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
    -Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
    -The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
    -You better work, b***h!
    -Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

    #423611
    mla1169
    Participant

    I compromise. I don't put my boss on the defensive by reminding him that he told me to hold off, but I do ask if I misunderstood, because I was sure he asked me to hold off.

    9 times out of 10 I get “oh, yeah you're right, can you work on it now, then?”

    The other time I have to suck it up and take the hit.

    FAR- 77
    AUD -49, 71, 84
    REG -56,75!
    BEC -75

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #423612
    ti807910
    Member

    On a related note, I work for a senior that forgets everything. Our team kept getting into trouble because he would miss deadlines or forget about things we needed to get done. It was SO frsutrating! I'd complain everyday when I got home about it. In order to save us, I started keeping track of all the due dates for the project myself and giving him friendly reminders whenever something was coming up (ex: Don't forget you have a meeting tomorrow. How soon do we need to get this testwork done? Did you sign off on my work? Don't forget Valentine's Day is in two days…what are your plans with your wife? etc etc) I became his personal calendar for everything. As a result, I got amazing reviews from our team. I guess I just wanted to add this because you can turn a negative into a great opportunity.

    FAR: 72, 68, 73, 78 (passed)
    REG: 61, 70, 73, 63, 78 (passed)
    AUD: 65, 84 (passed)
    BEC: 89 (passed)

    NASBA gave Doby a passing score, Doby is freeee!!

    #423613
    ImaCPA168
    Member

    @ti807910

    Upward management. Love the advice.

    I've had seniors, managers, partners ask for this. When done right, people love it. And it makes you look good and indispensable.

    B - 83 Done
    A - 88 Done
    R - 81 Done
    F - 77 Done

    Ethics - Done
    Attest Hours - Done

    Licensed-May 2013!

    #423614
    jelly
    Participant

    Yeah, I'd document every little thing in writing via email.

    I deal with a client who conveniently forgets everything. I print out pretty much every email request of his and store it for easy retrieval, and my boss carefully files away the same emails. Client's vendors make it a point to talk to me or my boss and keep the client out of the loop until the last minute.

    Couldn't pass again!

    #423615
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    CYA – Cover Your A$$! Whenever dealing with individuals that I know have the tendency to be forgetful or if I am uncomfortable with specific instructions, then I always make sure to document via email. Something to the effect of “per our conversation and to confirm my understanding of your request…” then lay out what they verbally told you. GL!

    #423616
    Mayo
    Participant

    I say try and be proactive in making sure you communicate what you've heard. Maybe you should create a department calendar that all projects can be tracked on. Then you can send this out every week so everyone can update it or edit,it appropriately.

    This way your boss can't say she/he doesn't know when the projects are being worked on. Plus, it makes you look good for taking charge of a situation.

    Mayo, BBA, Macc

    #423617
    StephAV
    Member

    I agree with those that have said documentation is key! It might not be that your boss is an idiot, maybe they are just overly busy and forget. I know this happens sometimes with our COO. He just doesn't remember. Sometimes for us it is recording or reporting things or how we handles issues that arise and he might not see the affect of HIS decision until YE and then ask why WE did that… Our solution has been to try to keep email communications about these types of things.

    FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
    BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
    AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
    REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
    I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

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