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gee4
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« on: February 22, 2007, 10:35:44 am » |
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Scenario - my desk is outside my bosses' offices, the boardroom and the chairman's office. It is an open plan floor. I can see chairman's room, boardroom and first bosses office. Problem is I have 2 cupboards to the left of me blocking the view of the other bosses office.
Issue - I cannot see if he is with someone or if he's on the phone. Noises carry and it could be someone further down the office who is on the phone and not him. Most of the time if I have mail for him or I need to speak to him about work or collect work from his desk, I have to go right to his office and stick my head through his open door. (Door would be shut if he's in a meeting). If I'm already at his door, and he's with someone, I usually walk away. However sometimes I am halfway into his office before I realise he has someone in with him but the meeting is not in his diary, just a more casual informal discussion.
Question - has anyone faced this situation? What have you done to overcome any embarrassment or dirty looks, apologies etc?
We are going through some changes and I will eventually move to another floor with my 2 bosses where hopefully the layout will be more complimentary to our working environment.
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msmarieh
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« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2007, 12:44:09 pm » |
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Is there somewhere you could place a mirror so you could see into his office?
Can you add a second line on your phone to show his phone so you would at least know if he was on the phone?
Is there no way to rearrange the desk/cupboard area? (Really look at this, sometimes we think things are more locked in place than they actually are).
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gee4
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« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2007, 12:52:03 pm » |
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Oh Marie you make me laugh.
1. Mirror - they'd def think I'm vain!
2. Am in process of trying to get new phone from IT manager who is as strict as they come, so an extra phone line? I could wait a year.
3. As for re-arranging cupboards - heck Facilities are as bad as IT. If it's been moved even an inch, I'll bet you gotta fill out a form.
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duque
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« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2007, 12:59:38 pm » |
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What about giving him a call, before getting up, to see whether he's either on the phone or it is or not convenient for him to see you at that moment?
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gee4
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« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2007, 01:12:08 pm » |
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I know this sounds silly but his office is only literally 10-15 feet away from my desk. I know if I dialed his extension he wouldn't answer.
I guess I'll just have to keep wearing out the carpet!
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laurafmcdermott
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« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2007, 05:27:00 pm » |
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I guess I'm not seeing an issue here. Is it really a hardship to walk by his office? If you are getting as far as halfway in before you realize someone is there, perhaps more caution is in order? If it's not that far away, I'm not sure what the problem is. As someone else said, it's worth asking to move the offending furniture regardless of how facilities seems to work.
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gee4
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« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2007, 05:35:10 pm » |
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If you were in my shoes you would.
Problem is I am up and down out of my seat every so often it gets embarrassing - other people seem to pip me to the post as they can see right into his office and can therefore ascertain if he's free or not. How on earth do I get messages to him when I cannot get any free time to see him?
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misslynn
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« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2007, 06:26:32 pm » |
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It makes sense, I can see your frustration. The mirror is a good idea, or maybe even something that just has a reflective surface. In my office, I'm next to Bossie so I can see in his office but my other guys are down the hall. The way I see their office is in the reflection of the pictures that are on the wall, any way to do something like that?
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raindance
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« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2007, 02:13:17 pm » |
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If it really is just a case of the cupboards being moved, then I would have those moved as soon as you are able to arrange it.
The other ways round this is to:
1. nly to see Bossie at fixed times each day to deliver messages and deliver/collect work (this worked well for me with my first boss in my present job)
2. have Bossie come to you (this method also worked well for me in my very first admin post. I had three Bossies and trained them to collect messages from my desk)
3. have a sliding sign with "engaged" on Bossie's door to indicate when he is not to be disturbed. It might look a little like a meeting-room sign, but would alleviate the chance of you being half-way through his door before noticing that he has someone with him.
As for embarrassment and apologies etc, don't go there; you are Bossie's admin support and you have a right to be there. With respect to dirty looks - these are not allowed in my office, neither are bad temper and growliness and such anti-social behaviours should be trained out of Bossie immediately if not sooner.
Best wishes,
Raindance
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gee4
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« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2007, 02:29:37 pm » |
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Rain they are so anal here.
Believe it or not have I tried all of these or ways round them. Facilities are not obliged to move furniture - it is in place as it is for a reason.
Early on when I commenced employment here, I asked one of my bosses could I put a tray on my desk where he could put work for me, he replied no - you leave mail and brought forwards on this side of my desk, and I put outgoing stuff that you pick up on the other side - say what?!
A sliding door sign would not work - we would need facilities to agree to it and therefore engage someone to carry out the work - couldn't see it being done for one person.
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gee4
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« Reply #11 on: February 28, 2007, 10:11:49 am » |
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Ok - advice please.
Been in and out of one bosses office several times this week. Document on his desk with a note to our CEO's PA, so I left it thinking he had a meeting with her and wanted to discuss it.
I've just been in this morning to give him some docs he printed and he said oh have you not taken this? To which I replied you have a note to "Jane" on it. Yes he said, and how do you think it's going to get to "Jane". I was mortified. I replied, sorry I thought perhaps you were having a meeting with her and left it there to discuss with her. He just laughed, got up from his desk and took it round to her. I said it's ok I can take it, but he walked out of his office heading for her desk.
I am so embarrassed and yet at the same time frustrated with him. Is he so anal he cannot let me know what he wants? Am I supposed to be a mindreader? It's getting to the stage where I feel totally inadequate and don't feel I'm doing my job right.
Help!
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itsme_calista
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« Reply #12 on: February 28, 2007, 11:20:46 am » |
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Gee, the only thing I can suggest it to sit down with him and just be "frank" explain the difficulties you are having in relation to this and ask him how he wants to address it in future.
Callie
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raindance
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« Reply #13 on: February 28, 2007, 12:28:14 pm » |
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I quite agree with Callie. It's time you sat down with Bossie and said "Enough already" and discussed how you work together. You need your Boss to give you the courtesy and respect of clear direction, unambiguous requests, and some assistance in promoting the work of your department. You two are a team - or should be - you are not his handmaiden.
If that isn't achievable and he insists on behaving like a little Napoleon, then I would look for another post.
Raindance
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gee4
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« Reply #14 on: February 28, 2007, 12:34:46 pm » |
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He's the only one that I find awkward or difficult, sarcastic even - nothing is good enough it seems.
Our CEO's PA has just discussed something with him which he insists is not in his diary. Luckily I kept the email she sent to everyone about the meeting and change of date. I have it in his diary but not for the date that he thought.
She's ready for a G&T, poor love!
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