PA and Secretary Community - Deskdemon.com

It's been slow in my office lately, since I'm caught up on all my regular duties.  I had been trying to get my boss to approve some changes to org charts so I could finalize them and send them out.  I saw him getting ready to put them aside (yet again) yesterday, so I told him, only half in jest, "You're holding up my work!"

He came back quickly, and rather sternly, saying, "Did I tell you to do this?" 
Sheepishly I said, "Well, no..." 
He said, "I haven't told you to do this.  It's really my work, not yours, so don't worry about it."

I guess he could say that about everything I do, in the long run, since I support his workload and help him get things out in a timely manner.  I've always been proactive, making sure the work gets done on time, if not ahead of schedule. I always thought of certain assignments as my own responsibility.  I was hurt he would be so blunt.  How would you feel about this? ???

I have a couple of thoughts
First your boss probably had a million other things on his mind and didn't realize how he sounded. Try not to take it personally.
Second, this doesn't mean don't  take initiative, but I would get more input from your boss for direction if possible without looking needy.
Third, if this still bothers you at the end of the week plan a time to discuss this and other items with your boss, not singling out this issue.
Good luck

This is what I've been saying for years...no matter how pro-active we try to be, not all our bosses want us to be.

It seems you can't win!

My take, ignore it.  If he needs you in future, he will tell you.

I would not take it personally.  May be more going on than you can be privvy to, and in those situations, bosses do get snappy without realizing it.  Let it go.  It will work out.

I agree with the comments above to let it go.

It may be that your little joke made him feel defensive and he snapped back as a first instinct. I wouldn't worry about it unless it happens more than once.