How to tell your boss she has unreasonable expectations?

[Kflasher]

...using the same trick.

Yes watch this, “Performance logging” she may be setting you up for failure.
You need to respond to all requests in a format that will back you up in the future.

There maybe a chance here for you to bypass her and effectively cutting her out of the loop. It may give you an increased work load and reduce hers to a point where she is no longer required.
Gather support of fellow workmates on any decision you decide to take, if they are experiencing the similar issues to you, they may be looking forward to a new leader.

Hope it all works out for you.

[Skyryder]

Start keeping a work diary for any future PD issues. Start looking for another job and if you find one do not tell anyone where you are going. Give the approapiate notice then take absoutly no notice of her 'changed' instructions at all. There are ways of getting back to shit bosses but unfortunatley 'nice people very often do not use the office system to do it.


Skyryder

[MotoGirl]

Yes watch this, “Performance logging” she may be setting you up for failure.
You need to respond to all requests in a format that will back you up in the future.

There maybe a chance here for you to bypass her and effectively cutting her out of the loop. It may give you an increased work load and reduce hers to a point where she is no longer required.
Gather support of fellow workmates on any decision you decide to take, if they are experiencing the similar issues to you, they may be looking forward to a new leader.

Hope it all works out for you.

Cheers for that, but we're such a small company (four people) there is no way to bypass her.

A general thought... If I do exactly what she asks when she asks, without questioning how to fits with my other priorities, whose fault is it if I can't make or miss a deadline? Can she come back at me for that?

[CookMySock]

Yes watch this, “Performance logging” she may be setting you up for failure.

MG, right or wrong I think you will be better served to ignore all the paranoia - it's not a smart way to think on a daily basis - has negative consequences for your self-esteem. Just remember its not your heart attack.. and tell her btw all your weekends are fully booked for the foreseeable future.

Steve

[justsomeguy]

Hmmm......

Nice situation you've gotten into.

Was in a similar position in my last job. Made me hate tiny companies..... although it's wrong to generalise.

If this was me - I'd just suck it up and do my best, while being as assertive as possible. In the mean time look at the market and see what's around.

This ain't the time to be job hopping and it's not the easiest time to find work.

Any chance of going back to your previous roles?

[justsomeguy]

Cheers for that, but we're such a small company (four people) there is no way to bypass her.

A general thought... If I do exactly what she asks when she asks, without questioning how to fits with my other priorities, whose fault is it if I can't make or miss a deadline? Can she come back at me for that?

Course she can come back at you - YOU MISSED THE DEADLINE - NO NO SHUT UP - YOU MISSED THE DEADLINE. NO ARGUMENTS......ME BOSS ...

Sounds like she has her own issues here......

In such situations it's best to make sure that the lines of communication are completely open in the company. Make sure everyone knows the potential consequences of any new tasks undertaken, what existing work will that effect, etc...Do you have weekly meetings? How do you monitor performance?

If the pavlova hits the fan, at least you will have something to go to your lawyer with.

Look sometimes such things happen. Take MotoGirl "the girl" out of the scenario and leave MotoGirl "the BA" in there - this is business, nothing more.

[jim.cox]

One place I worked for got taken out by an international engineering company.

Went from being 'just about ok' to 'dilbertian micro-management hell' in one quick jump

Took me a while, but I finally found an exit

You need to get out of there, as soon as possible

So get active, get networking and find that way out

But in the mean time you will just have to hang in there

And try not to let it get to you ( yeah right )

[ManDownUnder]

A general thought... If I do exactly what she asks when she asks, without questioning how to fits with my other priorities, whose fault is it if I can't make or miss a deadline? Can she come back at me for that?

Watch that one - she will find a way to make it your fault - "not being able to assess priorities", "not thinking for yourself", "not being a good judge of..." whatever. It will become personal. If you ever have conflicting instructions have her clarify which one takes priority and do it on the very genuine basis that you want to make sure the problems you've been experiencing lately aren't repeated.

Then watch the "other things" start to fall over... and watch her have no-one to blame but herself.

I'm also a fan of natural consequences. If she takes you off job A onto job B, or removes resources from A etc - and that thing you were doing fails... it's her fault - not yours.

Stop accommodating her extreme wishes by showing up extra early for things or jumping through the hoops she puts up. Enjoy your life too. Start at the required hour, end at the required hour. Be reasonable in what you give to the company, and in the current climate I'd say be more than reasonable, but don't give your life up to make hers easier.

That all said - tough one. That just sucks.

"Best time to look for a new job is while you still have one"

[MotoGirl]

Course she can come back at you - YOU MISSED THE DEADLINE - NO NO SHUT UP - YOU MISSED THE DEADLINE. NO ARGUMENTS......ME BOSS ...


Look sometimes such things happen. Take MotoGirl "the girl" out of the scenario and leave MotoGirl "the BA" in there - this is business, nothing more.

Watch that one - she will find a way to make it your fault - "not being able to assess priorities", "not thinking for yourself", "not being a good judge of..." whatever. It will become personal. If you ever have conflicting instructions have her clarify which one takes priority and do it on the very genuine basis that you want to make sure the problems you've been experiencing lately aren't repeated.


Stop accommodating her extreme wishes by showing up extra early for things or jumping through the hoops she puts up. Enjoy your life too. Start at the required hour, end at the required hour. Be reasonable in what you give to the company, and in the current climate I'd say be more than reasonable, but don't give your life up to make hers easier.

That all said - tough one. That just sucks.

"Best time to look for a new job is while you still have one"

That's some fine advice right there, guys!

I know from past experience that everything will always be my fault. She's told me before that I can't prioritise tasks and manage my own workload, yet my previous employer told me I was the best one in the company for managing myself. There's a reason my salary nearly trebbled in the time I was at that company, and it wasn't due to incompetence as my current boss would have me believe!

It sounds like I need to stop being so passionate about the company's wellbeing and turn into an employee who just shows up to eat lunch and get paid.

[ManDownUnder]

It sounds like I need to stop being so passionate about the company's wellbeing and turn into an employee who just shows up to eat lunch and get paid.

Na - just focus on the bigger picture. Look beyond your job and focus on your career - get a new job is needs be. Working for someone willing to blame you for everything is only going to wear you down and look bad on your CV.

Of interest - is she an owner or shareholder in the company?

[MotoGirl]

Na - just focus on the bigger picture. Look beyond your job and focus on your career - get a new job is needs be. Working for someone willing to blame you for everything is only going to wear you down and look bad on your CV.

Of interest - is she an owner or shareholder in the company?

Yes, she owns the company.

[ManDownUnder]

Yes, she owns the company.

Ok - so it literally is her personal interests she's playing with and she quite likely "owns your arse" - in her mind at least.

[BOGAR]

Like Jim and MDU say it's best to get a job while you still have one. Start looking, use employment agencies, networking and even KB and try and get a better job soon. You sound good at your job and we can but wish you th best of luck getting a new one. Use the thought of getting a better job as the light at the end of the tunnel to make the job bearable till the end. a bad word to the boss could end up leaving you without a job. There is plenty of advice on how to try and deal with the problem first but usually unless things really turn around there will always be resentment / annoyance there making it hard to continue working there.
I didn't like my job in Rotorua but the company I work for is large so I now spend 4 days in Tauranga which has been great for me. but the 1 day in Rotorua puts me on the defensive every time (even when there is nothing bad happening).
Good luck by the way.

[popelli]

My advice get another job - there is no solution or future in the current position

Other tips

Keep a detailed diary in case you need to get legal redress

Follow her instructions (make sure they are in writing) to the letter even when they are wrong

Do not give extra time to the jobs, unless you are paid to work weekends don't

Do not answer or reply to out of office / hours calls

If you don't get another position and have a good diary and copy all pertinent emails to your home email address as you will need this evidence

I had a similar situation a few years back, boss was a complete plonker, I bided my time documented everything and when he slipped up big time I had him for constrcutive dismissal

One phone call to his lawyer and he settled very quickly out of court with a compromise agreement comprising of a redundancy offer, a substantial cash settlement and an excellent reference

result I was out of a job that I truely hated and I was back in work within a matter of weeks after this and never looked back

Had he been smarter he could have made me redundant legally for less than a months salary, however as he had provided evidence for constructive dismissal he created a rod for his own back

[MotoGirl]

My advice get another job - there is no solution or future in the current position

Other tips

Keep a detailed diary in case you need to get legal redress

Follow her instructions (make sure they are in writing) to the letter even when they are wrong

Do not give extra time to the jobs, unless you are paid to work weekends don't

Do not answer or reply to out of office / hours calls

If you don't get another position and have a good diary and copy all pertinent emails to your home email address as you will need this evidence

I had a similar situation a few years back, boss was a complete plonker, I bided my time documented everything and when he slipped up big time I had him for constrcutive dismissal

One phone call to his lawyer and he settled very quickly out of court with a compromise agreement comprising of a redundancy offer, a substantial cash settlement and an excellent reference

result I was out of a job that I truely hated and I was back in work within a matter of weeks after this and never looked back

Had he been smarter he could have made me redundant legally for less than a months salary, however as he had provided evidence for constructive dismissal he created a rod for his own back

Interesting post. What type of evidence did you have to prove constructive dismissal?