"Constructive" Criticism?

[movinguptheladder]

Good morning, everyone!  I hope during this week of "thanks-giving" that you are all giving thanks for all those things that you are blessed with (health, happiness, roof over your head, etc).  I am also giving thanks to those people who stood by me through thick and thin (family and friends).  

What I would like to see is more people in the workplace being "thankful", if you know what I mean.  Let me give you an idea of what I'm getting at.

I moved up to a management/supervisory position about 6 months ago and I've been getting nothing but criticism.  Since I came on board there has been 100% turnover in the administrative dept. (consists of 2 people) which had nothing to do with me.  I now have a new administrative assistant under me and over time I think things will be great.  In the meantime, I have a boss who is over 100 miles away who I see every couple months and doesn't see all the things happening at my office.  I am working under the same conditions as the people who left and I believe I am handling things very well.  I am meeting all deadlines and keeping a positive attitude.  I am handling everything being thrown at me.  

I am finding, however, that my manager and others are more critical than anything I've ever seen.  Every day my boss calls to see how things are going and wants to know the priorities of the day.  When I tell her about something I've done, she'll say, "You should have done this..."  This happens just about every day.  What does a person do when their boss second guesses everything they do?  I just want to be left alone to develop my own style and if I need help I'll ask for it.  

Has anyone here at this forum encountered a lot of criticism even though you knew you were doing a good job?  What did you do, if anything?  Thanks!

[laundryhater]

Yes, I've noticed that some bosses are pickier than others on how things get done. It's just their personalities that they like it their way or the highway.

I just kinda learn what they like, don't like and conform to their way of thinking to keep them happy and keep the peace. Each boss is different and I try to be flexible and appease them.

Luckily, my boss for the past 4 years has let me do my own thing with little supervision because he knows I do a good job.

[mlm668]

Have you tried suggesting a face to face meeting between you and your boss to go over your responsiblities and what is expected of you?  If he is calling you everyday, that tells me that he is still not comfortable with your being in a managerial position.  Having a 100% turnover in staff has probably only worsened his lack of confidence.  Instead of having experiened admins there to assist you as he probably expected, you are starting a new position and having to deal with admins who are still learning theirs.  Until you have gained more of his confidence, try doing things his way.  As you become more experienced, you will start to develop your own style and will be able to incorporate it with what he wants.  Talk to your boss and tell him your concerns.   Ask him if instead of calling daily, maybe you can schedule a call for the first part of the week to go over the week's schedule and one at the end of the week to go over what was and wasn't accomplished and why.  Its obvious the daily calls are affecting your confidence.  

Hang in there.  You've made it farther than a lot of admin who want to move up ever do.  

Michelle

[bethalize]

I'm glad to know that management have problems with their bosses as well - that means it's not just us!

There are only so many things you can do wrong (i.e. in a different way to the way your boss would do them). As you do them, and your boss comes back with criticism you can say: "Okay, next time I shall do it like that. Is there a reason for doing it like that that I should be aware of?" This is a tactful way of getting him to validate his reasoning without being confrontational. If you are constantly being told to do things a certain way with no good reason, then you have a different problem (boss holding on to all information because knowledge is power, being a micromanager).

In your position I would bite my tongue for a little bit, and see if it improves. If you've done something that works and they say "You should have done that differently" then is the time to ask why. "Because I said so" is not a good response from a boss!


Bethalize
Deskdemon Forum Board Staff

[chikky]

Here is where I think your problem is and this is and this is your quote:

"I am working under the same conditions as the people who left and I believe I am handling things very well."

The key words are "people who left."    I think you are working under the assumption of ..."but that is the way it has always been done."   (I may be wrong here.)  Ask tne "new" managers want they want and need and proceed from there to develop you "style" of doing things.

Good luck.  

Edited by chikky on 21/11/01 02:31 AM.

[chikky]

Of course,  the professional that you are, you are trying to dodging all of the "bullit's" being shot at you and are trying to carry on!.    In my previous post, I am assuming you are working for a new team of managment people. Who don't know you well or your style or working. Is that true?  If so, it take time to build trust with the new bossies.  

Edited by chikky on 21/11/01 02:48 AM.