Re: Challenging and oppressive SME situation

[Ann Mackenzie <TekDocWis -at- AOL -dot- COM>]

In a message dated 98-08-20 20:27:25 EDT, Marilyn Baldwin wrote:

> Before you ever met with this SME, it would probably have
>  been a good idea to have a brief meeting with your manager to see what HE
>  knew about her, either by direct experience or word around the place.  This
>  isn't because you'd have suspected anything bad about her - but just
>  because it's good for everyone if you know things like: what's her current
>  workload, and where might my project fit into it, does she like to keep
>  right on top of things or kind of hustle near the end of the timeframe for
>  deliverables due, what exactly is required of her and what of me, etc.

What a good idea this is!  It never occurred to me before, but *everyone*
likes
to be asked for advice, so a meeting like this with your boss provides an
opportunity for:
 - you to show yourself as a competent, organized professional
 - the manager to give "easy" advice (that is, "soft" issues) and feel like a
competent boss
 - both of you to have a nonthreatening, easy-going meeting, so your manager
sees you in
   a positive business situation

Writing status reports, either weekly or bimonthly, also is a good idea.  They
make you
evaluate and list what you have accomplished and show that you are planning.
Mine
contain 3 major headings:
 o Current Progress   List accomplishments (include everything you spend time
on, such as
    meetings, interviews, reviews, drafts, requests) for the past week or two.
 o Expected Progress  Your plan for your work during the next week or two
 o Comments (or, Concerns)  Its alright to write "nothing" most times, but
when there is a problem,
    or something that needs addressing, here is the place to write about it
before becomes major.
    Sometimes, potential problems can be stopped by an early warning, or
concern, in writing.
I have never had a manager who didn't appreciate concise status reports in
writing.

Thoughts to add to this very interesting, and informative thread.  Thank you
to everyone else who
is participating, I'm learning a lot!

Cheers     Annie
==========================
Ann Mackenzie:   TekDocWis -at- aol -dot- com
TekDoc - Technical Documentation, Inc. in Milwaukee, WI, USA
Specializing in software, engineering, and policies & procedures.


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