Comments on: It’s not me, it’s you. TOTALLY. YOU.

By: KathyK

KathyK — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 22:50:15 +0000

It’s odd. Apparently we’ve both worked at the same place (ref. your list) and never encountered one another at the office!

Your list reminds me of all that awaits when I return to work in one week, after 6 weeks leave. I’d leave permanently, but it appears that I would encounter the same assholes wherever I go!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:45:50 +0000

#3. Oh, dear Lord in heaven, #3. Why do people do that? And don’t hold a meeting to cover it. Can you not just send an email, delegate as needed, and let us go?

Also falling under this is holding a three hour online meeting to create a to-do list. You know, when we could’ve accomplished everything ON that list in two and a half hours.

By: Elle

Elle — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:02:39 +0000

I have a boss, who, when I was interviewing, impressed me with all the “team” talk: We all take out the trash, we all make coffee, we all wash the dishes. Blah blah blah.” I’ve found what he REALLY meant was “I will get a new cup every time I go for coffee, and I will put the dirty ones on the counter when I leave for the day. If I come in the next morning and the dirty cups are still on the counter (even though I’m usually the last one to leave), I will send a nasty email to the staff about how dirty dishes on the counter overnight is totally unacceptable.”

And that’s on a good day.

For the first time in 25 years of working I understand first-hand what it means to be a disengaged employee, and it totally irritates me that this man has singlehandedly caused that.

By: kate

kate — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:12:32 +0000

oh i love your list!! i had a boss once that would take on something she felt would make her look good but was technically my responsiblity. Then she would tell me nothing about it and if i asked she would shush me and tell me not to worry about it, it was covered. Then when it wasnt done she would yell at me and ask why i didnt do it.

I would say you need to add rule:
- not makig up your mind what things you want to do and what things you want your employees to do (or changing your mind at the last second when it is IMPOSSIBLE to complete a task)

not that i am bitter… (really!! well, anymore ) and i am that much more thankful for my amazing boss now (he think’s i am brilliant - whats not to like? )

By: Florinda

Florinda — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:14:11 +0000

It’s actually in my job description to establish and enforce procedures for accounting and financial matters. I’ll take responsibility for it if these procedures aren’t communicated properly, but if you KNOW them and try to go around them every time - because what you need is always too urgent to go through the process - you’re on your way to my bad side.

My husband works in a completely different field, but has the same problem.

Rules aren’t for “other people” - they’re for YOU. Make all our lives easier by learning and following them.

(Thanks for the chance to vent on this one, KathyHowe!)

By: Nataly

Nataly — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 02:51:26 +0000

I had this boss once. He would ask me to do something and I’d say ok, on it, got it, doing it. He would then come back to my office a minute later and say (always!) “If I were you, I would…” and then he would tell me what to focus on, etc. Always, 100% of the time. It drove me insane.