Re: Can I Get Your Input Please

[Ned Bedinger <doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com>]

Kevin McGowan wrote:
> Wow...that manager certainy does sound like a tool. did you have any previous indication that he/she was this type of person? Fact is, if there was any problems with your work, they would have mentioned it earlier in your 14-month tenure, or they would have shown you the door ages ago.
>  
> I've seen this kind of behavior myself in previous jobs, in the same scenario. Your manager is immature and taking this somehow very personally, IMO. 
>  

Me too. I think it made mine worry that it would reflect badly on the 
ol' management skills. like out of control, so they try to recover by 
using whatever power they think they're supposed to have, like 
performance evaluations. It is a personality defect, a serious deviation 
from the proper relationship. It only gets worse, in my limited 
experience. Conventional wisdom is to just move on and not try to 
resolve it. Damage control is that important to a contracxtor.

Why? That's a tough one requiring fine-tuned empathy--maybe manager 
feels the writer has taken advantage of generous efforts to develop 
writer as a good fit for the current position. You know, "After all I've 
done for you, ..."

Maybe writer reminds manager of someone. Maybe manager is just an 
aggressive, punitive-minded dickhead who will hound writer until the 
grudge is finally forgotten.

Contracting is dangerous--we're constantly exposed to managers of 
unknown quality, and to potential trouble like the OP describes. Best 
defense is open-minded independence--accept the work that seems OK, keep 
commitments light (short term) until you're sure, be aware of the damage 
a manager can do to your reputation, don't assume you have any recourse 
within the company, and most of all, be sure to show appreciations to 
the gods that keep this kind of thing under control as much as they do.

Ned Bedinger
doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com

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