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Subject:Re: need suggestions on handling a boss From:Steve Schwarzman <steve -at- writersbookmall -dot- com> To:Peter Neilson <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net> Date:Wed, 7 Dec 2011 10:22:22 -0500
A few people have recommended that Kari document everything (in addition to
the documentation, that is). Notwithstanding the story that Peter told,
which is powerful, it's hard for me to imagine how all that documenting is
going to help Kari. If her boss is gunning for her, chances are not in her
favor that some higher-up will want to read her dutiful documentation of
what her boss told her, and what she did, etc. etc. It's far more likely, I
think, that the upper boss will simply rely on what Kari's boss says. In
employee-said, manager-said situations, directors tend to side with
managers.
Allies in other departments, though, as Peter suggests, are always a good
thing, not only in terms of defending one's job, but also in getting one's
job done better.
As to the question of Kari's boss herself, well, there really are managers
out there who don't understand their role. The manager's role in this case
is to help the writer get the information she needs. That can include
interceding with other departments, working with the writer directly if the
boss has the requisite domain knowledge, finding channels and methods of
communication with the other departments that will allow them to get their
own work done and also make it possible for them to convey the needed
information with minimal pain, etc. etc.
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