Ever Wonder Just Why You Bother?

[Kell_ee001]

I've been working really hard for the last few days on some training documents about reducing complaints. Boss asked me to keep him up to date on what I've been working on and how things are progressing in general - fair play. So this morning I hand him 5 pages of work to look over - 3 pages are step-by-step "idiot proof" ways to handle the call (from empathising to making sure you keep your promises) which I found and modified from a training website. The other 2 pages I have written myself from information I have gathered and general experience I have. He accusses me of copying it all and that he needs more than a bit of "copy and paste" from web sites!

His boss told me earlier this morning that could include one of the lads (with previous complaints experience as well) if I wanted to although she says I seem to be doing a good job by myself. The lad in question even comes up to me and says he's there if I want a hand but "reminds" me that he is "meant" be be "properly involved". Finally the boss comes in and tells me to play nicely, to make sure I include him because his boss doesn't want to me do it alone and I need to get my act in gear! Cheeky get! When I try to explain that I have been told otherwise (from his boss herself in fact) he cuts me off and tells me he doesn't want to know!

I don't want to be nasty to the lad but we both have the same experience and I feel this is my one chance to prove myself and gain experience. When I went for a job as a Company Trainer I was informed experience was the main thing I needed, and now I feel my last chance is being taken from me.

So my options seem to be to go running to the bosses boss (who has enough on her plate without me adding to it), get on my bosses bad side and upset this lad or finally get on with it but lose my opportunity! Wonderful, eh?

I just wonder why I bothered putting in all that hard work to be accussed of copying it and then forced to share the credit!

/rant over

 

[Kell_ee001]

Annoyed - double posted by mistake!

 

[Kell_ee001]

Never go to a bosses boss. You'll just annoy everyone. Thats a major no no unless its a major problem, which this isn't.

His boss came to me to see how things were going - we're usually a pretty close knit dept and people don't think twice about going to any manger (including her boss) about anything.

Personally anyone who thinks they can't learn form someone else, even someone less experienced, is a little immature IMO.

I don't think I can't learn from him, but I need something on my record (and quick) that I can honestly say is all my doing. There is a very high chance of my dept closing down and us all being put out of work, so this is most likely my last chance.

To kitten_caboodle, thanks for the good advice.

I've calmed down and I've been talking to the other lad. He's trying to take over (like he does with everything) but I have got him to recognise this is my project but I will welcome his input. I have reminded my boss of this and basically told him that we've barely started so to give me some slack. I have also told him we will report to him later when we have more to show - he seemed ok with it.

Still realllllly frustrating though but the boat is already sinking, no need to start rocking it too

 

[Kell_ee001]

So you'd only promote the people who complain and get their work done badly? That must make for a pleasant and productive company.

Good luck with that.

Who says the work would be done badly? There's nothing wrong in being assertive and making your feelings known It's how you made them known that makes the difference.

I think in this situation that it's a bit of a a final straw for me more than anything. I've been really stressed over the last week and the comments I was given this morning really got to me. Felt like all the credit had been taken from me and that my experience was being ignored - neither of which are good practise when working in a team.

Oh, and if it's not a copy and paste job then say so. If you've been told by senoir management you can include this other person at your discretion then say so.

I did, and I did!

But I think my best bet is to get on with it.... while looking for another job

 

[Kell_ee001]

I don't think you are looking at this from a business point of view, just your own. Thats a mistake IMO. Company view: 2 peoples experience is better then one persons experience. leverage that.

IMO having 2 people do the work of 1 is also a business mistake - it's wasting resources that could be better used else-where.

And usually he does want to know but there's a lot of tension and stress in the dept at the moment which isn't helping anybody.

 

[Kell_ee001]

The way it sounds to me at the moment is that you're not a team player who is always striving to get noticed and work by themselves; which do you think looks better on a CV?

-RaZ

Then I'm sorry to say you've got it completely wrong. Pretty much all I have on my CV is team work/credit shared with someone else on projects. This project however was my idea, with my research and my credit being halved! Usually I wouldn't mind but since (as already stated) this is a sinking ship I think I need this as there is no-where to be promoted too - this is to look good on my CV that I controlled, I managed and I trained others on as a solo project.

Tbh, that was the whole point of the project!

 

[Kell_ee001]

... snip ...

Did you totally miss the part on how everything on my CV is about team work?

And did you catch the fact this is a sinking ship so it has nothing to do with impressing the company - this about improving my CV.

While you start actually reading the thread make sure you see where it says I am getting on with it, I have put my boss straight which he was ok with and that I am working with the other guy, welcoming anything he can help me with.

She's close to turning a nothing-request from her manager in to something which will make her look like a whiner and a grumbler!

Explain.

 

[Kell_ee001]

The impression I'm under (correct me if I'm wrong) is you've lifted and modified 3 pages of standard call handling procedures and added 2 pages. This doesn't exactly constitute a major project yet you're making quite a fuss over it in that your riling your line manager and circumventing him and going to his manager. All for the sake of essentially 2 pages of A4 work which I imagine took ~45 mins to do.

First I would like to point out that you haven't answered the question.

Since you asked me to correct your assumptions I shall

This morning I got accussed of lifting all of the work from the web. It was 2 different documents, one modified and one original but I got no credit at all. What I got annoyed about (on top of the lack of credit) is that I was being forced to work with someone else on a solo project and that my experience was being ignored in favour of this lads. Since this morning however I have several more documents as well as activites planned that, once again, will be shared credit instead of what it is - my work.

I haven't riled my manager - I have stated several times now I have reminded my boss that this was a solo project and basically told him that we've barely started so to give me some slack. I have also told him we will report to him later when we have more to show as well as agreeing to work with the other guy - he seems happy with all of it. I'm taking his experience and comments on board but making sure that we both get the credit we deserve.

And finally if all you are going to do is make assumptions and jump to the wrong conclusions instead of being construstive I'll kindly ask you to butt out.

 

[Kell_ee001]

never let people walk over you... they'll soon get the message!

I put my boss in his place and sent the lad to buy my coffee... think I'm alright!

I think they've got the message

 

[Kell_ee001]

...To be honest if your CV is dependent on a 5 page report I think you need to look at the bigger picture...

Well I think you should read the whole thread before trying to slate someone else's opinion.

 

[Kell_ee001]

You're being too defensive.

No - I just don't like it when people slate other peoples opinions when they haven't read all the facts.

Its meant advice.

I don't know this was meant to mean

You didn't arrive in this position overnight. So something isn't working for you is it?

Something isn't working - which is why I spoke to my boss and resolved it several hours ago.

You need to look at why that is.

I did - my boss's fault - sorted now.

Not get all huffy.

As mentioned - I just don't like it when people slate other peoples opinions when they haven't read all the facts.

No offense dude.

I take offense at being called "dude"