(not) pleasing the mysterious boss

[dettu]

UGH.

I like my new boss but I cannot seem to make her happy. She wants to meet with me weekly--great. I have made the mistake (more than once) of not showing up with lots of paper to prove I'm doing work and know what she wants. This is because I'm really new to the organization (mid-May this year) and honestly do not yet know what she wants. She has indicated she wants me to take the lead on many projects--yet hasn't given me anything where I can lead, and also I lack the knowledge to find and initiate large projects on my own. The person who had my job previously (promoted) is still handling some of the duties, and is gradually passing them on to me as they are monthly, yearly or whatever, not daily/weekly. She is also responsible for introducing me to my counterparts in other organizations, which she is doing at a quite leisurely pace and I'm in no position to push that agenda. I have been given one long-term, low-level project to work on and it's quite difficult to track or measure it; I'm to look at all of our shared files and folders, reorganize them where I can, archive old ones where I can. This is my lowest priority and sometimes (like this week) I have made zero progress on it.

The times when I HAVE had my tasks detailed on paper, bossie didn't like the way I showed it! But she couldn't offer me any suggestions of what she did want. "Bring me a list of what you're working on, questions you have, etc." Except that my list is short--I don't even know what questions to ask yet. Am I meant to manufacture questions and paper evidence?

My other bossie (I don't report to him but I work a great deal for him) gave me loads of work from the get-go and it's easy to provide him with updates--and he gives me real, tangible paper projects to work on so it's clear how much I've done. I have no such problems with him, and also he is willing to listen to my oral report and to give and take with me. It's just Main Bossie I struggle with--she frowns throughout our meetings, regardless of how I try to present myself.

I did try reminding her that I'm new, that the projects come up on their schedule and that I'm dependent upon Colleague to lead (and Colleague told me to say this!) but she kept on frowning and looking most displeased. I've come to dread these meetings.

[gee4]

Sounds as if she is as awkward as hell.  If she can't direct you as to what she wants, how on earth are you supposed to manufacture it?

I really do despair of these people and wonder how they are in the positions they are in.  

The job you are working on regarding the filing and archiving sounds pretty boring and pointless.  I mean I archived maybe once a year.  How long is the project expected to last?

Yes you are still fairly new but there has to be directive, guidance, tasks set etc.  Actually the job I got made redundant from, one of my directors started off like that with me.....what was I working on, progress etc.  He was not my line manager but equal to the other director I worked for who never asked what I was doing or what I was working on.  It was weird.  In the end, there was nothing to tell him because I more or less had a job finished before he knew it was started, so what did it matter if it wasn't for him?

Can you ask why she reacts to you in the way that she does?  Can you ask her what she wants to see eg. what paperwork does she want you to produce?

I understand your frustration but it sounds like boss is the root of it.

[dettu]

I think she's the root of it too, but one has to be clever in these situations when being direct doesn't work...

The archiving project really has not been done ever, and our shared files are spread across two drives and need to be consolidated and reorganized. I enjoy that kind of work, so it's OK with me, but if I stop to log number of files moved/deleted/whatever...it's a meaningless measurement and doesn't reflect how valuable the work is. I expect it will take several months if I work on it a bit each week.

She was just promoted, so she must be doing something right. Part of her awkwardness is finding her own way with her additional responsibilities, I imagine. Doesn't help me much to know it!

[JessW]

Don't forget that visible 'evidence' can speak volumes where words mean nothing.  By this I mean, if you are consolidating onto one drive into one or more folders, then why not use screenshots of where the folders were and where they are now, as you do it.  That way she can see with minimum fuss what is being moved.  Do this per project (if that is what they are) together with how far each project has got and any deadlines that are coming up in the next year, or however far in the future.  This, together with a directory of new locations which lists old locations (sort of a quick glance at guide to have at her desk!) might be something she can handle, in both senses of the word.

It sounds like she does not want to feel out of control in an unfamiliar environment and so is looking for a way to learn what is practicable and what is not as well as how it is done.

Just my thoughts, based on what I have read so far.

Hope my ideas give you something to go on.

Jess

[raindance]

My take on it is this: this lady is new to her job, and possibly new to a senior management role (if she is "senior", that is).  She seems to think that whoever is working with her has to "report" to her and clearly wants reports "because that's what managers do".  Well, yes and no.  It depends on the company's policies and no manager worth his or her salt will clutter up their subordinates' time needlessly with extra tasks that are pointless.  

She is failing to provide clear direction and boundaries for the scope of your authority.  "I want you to take the lead on lots of projects" is a useless statement unless it is qualified by an indication of precisely which projects she wishes you to take over.  

Maybe your manager can't actually let go and trust the staff who report to her; maybe she is unsure of herself or a micromanager, or quite simply, out of her depth!  None of these is your problem.

I would be tempted to use a meeting to discuss this matter more thoroughly and say you are puzzled at the mixed messages: need for reports and lack of direction.  You can be direct but still courteous.  No matter how disapproving she looks or how much she frowns, this is no time to beat about the bush or a few months down the line you will be posting to us about someone who has turned into a bully because they can't hack it.

[bellajgw]

Oh be soooooo careful with bosses like this.  Bosses who can't give you concrete examples of what they want or expect are BAD NEWS.

Here is my suggestion.  Schedule your own meeting with her.  Sit her down and say "I am really struggling with your expectations of these meetings of ours and it would really help me if we could use this time to go over exactly what it is you are looking for."  There is nothing wrong with asking for specifics.  Tell her what you THINK she wants and ask her if this is correct.  Remind her that as much as you would like to you can't read her mind and you just can't anticipate what she wants yet as you are still pretty new.  Let her know that you've seen how disappointed she looks when you present your work and would like to figure out exactly what her expectations are.

She sounds like a major micro-manager.  What's worse, a micro-manager who won't even tell you what she wants.  These types of bosses can lead to trouble...bad reviews with no explanation, bad projects because they don't trust you on better ones, you need to iron out any misconceptions between the two of you.

I know it can be scary with her being the boss and all, but how can you assist her if you don't know what she wants?  It's perfectly reasonable to ask her to explain to you.  It's also covering your own butt.