Bloody. Awful.
Actually that’s not quite true. There were some great moments; several absolute highs. Yet I still came home in low spirits, bad headache and only the fear of loss of income stopping me from writing the letter of resignation.
Take heed you bosses. I worked my socks off today, but in an unostentatious way. I saw great results from my preparation, planning and leadership. My staff were well deployed and working effectively.
My boss walked through the area where we were working. One sour faced comment to me. Later, she spoke to one of my team, praising him for what she had seen him doing. Great. He deserved it.
Not a word to me.
Mid-afternoon, she delegated attendance of a meeting to me. It was quite a harrowing meeting, and I came out feeling fairly battered emotionally by what I had heard. Straight into another meeting and a careless demand for paperwork. I say careless, because I work at this post part time, yet I get as much paperwork as those who work full time. I could feel the avalanche tottering, threatening to engulf me, and said so.
She shrugged. It’s just one piece of work. Yes, and there are lots of single pieces of work that in themselves do not amount to much. Put them together and you might as well ask me to climb Everest in my lunchbreak.
Lunchbreak. That’s another oxymoron.
In recent weeks I have had colleagues and visitors praising me to the skies; saying what fantastic work I do. I hear such praise from my boss so rarely that emergency services might need to be on standby if she decided to show some appreciation.
So, if you have someone working for you, please notice what they do; please tell them. It is not only good management, it will motivate them and let them know you appreciate their efforts.
Shadows and Light
I’m in the same boat Isobel. While I recognise the absolute need to tell people when they are doing a good job and appreciate them – and do! – it’s a fat lot of good if the bosses don’t.
Sorry you had a bad day. Mine was too. Splitting headache, lethargy and way too much work. Early to bed and fresh start tomorrow.
It is just so draining isn’t it. I feel utterly fed up and tired.
Why didn’t I marry the rich man when I had the chance?!?
I’m off to bed early too. But I am going to put up a more positive post in a moment. I am not going to let my boss steal my day completely.
Don’t let her indeed. Maybe what she needed was a bit of praise herself from those above her?
It’s a completely different tack, but I often find that those who are disagreeable are unhappy themselves, or jealous. A useful insight sometimes. If I can remember to bear it in mind at the appropriate time.
I think you are absolutely right. I would not like to live in her skin.
She does not value me. She credits others with my work more often than not, and fault finds rather than praises me. Whereas one of my colleagues can do no wrong, is praised to the skies for anything and everything and reaps financial rewards. What can you do?
Roll on retirement…
It’s hard.
Keep on doing what you do, because others appreciate you and you know yourself you are doing a good job.
I seem to have hit a nerve here. Too many of us know what this is like. It is funny how praise from the boss counts for so much.
So demotivating and distressing for you. Having a poor relationship with your boss can have such a dramatic impact on your life.
It might be something very out of character but do any of your colleagues and visitors ever email you feedback? If they do, consider replying with your thanks and copy your boss in to them or find some other way of making sure they see it. If it is seen that other people appreciate you, your stock may rise (unless, of course, that’s the reason your boss has a downer on you :-S)
Funnily enough, one of my colleagues sent me a very fulsome email which was copied to my boss just the other day. The boss mentioned receiving the email but not the content. I don’t know what to make of that.
she’s probably jealous. Really.
Maybe she’ll retire…
But even more annoying, I forgot to time my cake ( more rhubarb) and overcooked it. Can I lay that at her door do you think?
Jealousy most surely could be the issue here….I’ve unfortunately been on the receiving end of similar behavior in my long career – it’s always frustrating to work hard at a job, making sure your own staff hears appropriate praise from you, only to rarely/never hear it from your higher ups. That’s when jealousy can rear it’s ugly green head!
Pam
p.s. That kind of thing AND commuting are the two things I do NOT NOT NOT miss since I’ve retired!
I am a firm believer in the fact that a little appreciation goes a long way. I wonder how many bosses have lost great employees, husbands lost wives, and wives lost husbands, etc., because they took them for granted. This is one of those 20-20 hindsight scenarios that usually isn’t recognized until it is too late.
I have to say too Isobel that I think she is jealous. Sorry you had a bad day. Hope today is going better.
It’s hideous to have a bad boss, i’ve been there too. I suspect she has a miserable lonely life and is to be pitied, silly cow.
I have never understood people such as your boss. I am glad of that. But It does cause me to ponder at times as to the workings of their minds.
Sorry to hear that work is so awful. Think back to when we worked together and what a great partnership we had and what great work we did with the kids. It was a privilege to have worked with you. I know how you feel but you will work through this and come out the other side. Love to you Vickyxxx
Thanks, Vicky. Fingers crossed. We were bloody good weren’t we?!
We were great, you still are!!!!!!!!!!