Coat Tails and an After Thought

[AFK]

Just some observational venting,


So here where I work, my boss basically doesn't pay any attention to what I do.  On the one hand it's probably complimentary, having full trust that I'm pretty good at what I do.  On the other hand, it's his job to be my boss and to provide supervision.  But his idea of supervisions is bascially just saying yes, or repeating my "thinking out loud" suggestions.  Like this draft letter I sent him, I said in the e-mail, "maybe I should include this little nugget of info".  So, his feedback?  That I should include that little nugget of info, like he thought of it on his own.


I shouldn't complain as it could be worse and he could be a control freak, however, I think it's more likely the case he simply doesn't give a fuck because my work is the icky work.  It isn't the warm and fuzzy stuff of getting kids to drink less soda, or getting adults to get more exercise, or to build trails, or hand out stupid brochures that nobody is ever going to read ever.


But, by fuck, if he has a chance to glom on to what I do in a community meeting, like he's been an integral part of it somehow, by fuck he will.  Until he gets into infamiliar territory and gives me that pleading look to bail him out. 


It's all about status and importance.  About making the agency look good, and important, and THE BEST!  Fuck, I just want to do the work because it is the right thing to do, and I'd like him and the Board to take an actual and genuine interest in what I do.  Not for validation or anything.  Just because, well, it's kind of what the organization is supposed to do and he's supposed to lead the way. 


You can't lead by sitting around.

[Internet Jesus]

You can't lead by sitting around.

Isn't that the exact reason they call it middle management, not middle leadership?

[The Wizard Joseph]

You can't lead by sitting around.

Isn't that the exact reason they call it middle management, not middle leadership?

THIS!

He sounds like he has got the middleitis. Either he has no real leadership training, or this is the best he knows to do with what he has.

With respect RWHN, it would seem to me that if you want the board and your "superiors" to engage and understand whatever it is you do, and your motives, it is on you to find the means to do so. This may involve considerable extra effort and letting this guy sit in the middle as you go around him. You can likely avoid pique from him if you make it clear in a letter, that he will likely glaze over, what you intend to do.

Alternatively you can consider communicating your concerns and thoughts to him and COUNT on the fact that he may run with them like they're his. This makes you the person with leverage and may be far more efficient if you don't care about validation and only want results. Just sacrifice the need for credit.

Just my nickel's worth of free advice, sir. Hope things go well for you whatever you do.

[P3nT4gR4m]

You can't lead by sitting around.

Isn't that the exact reason they call it middle management, not middle leadership?

THIS!

He sounds like he has got the middleitis. Either he has no real leadership training, or this is the best he knows to do with what he has.

With respect RWHN, it would seem to me that if you want the board and your "superiors" to engage and understand whatever it is you do, and your motives, it is on you to find the means to do so. This may involve considerable extra effort and letting this guy sit in the middle as you go around him. You can likely avoid pique from him if you make it clear in a letter, that he will likely glaze over, what you intend to do.

Alternatively you can consider communicating your concerns and thoughts to him and COUNT on the fact that he may run with them like they're his. This makes you the person with leverage and may be far more efficient if you don't care about validation and only want results. Just sacrifice the need for credit.

Just my nickel's worth of free advice, sir. Hope things go well for you whatever you do.

THIS!!

Bonus points for convincing him he's thought of the best idea ever then, when it turns out to be a fucking disaster, you refuse to take any responsibility for his decisions. Basically this dude can be used as a human shield between you and failure. Have some fun with it.

[Ayotollah of Ass]

So here where I work, my boss basically doesn't pay any attention to what I do...
You can't lead by sitting around.

Be careful what you wish for. I had a job where I would do research and send out replies by email, and my boss read every one and would frequently stop by my office to offer suggestions, not infrequently 10 times or more a day.

In your situation, on the other hand, you've got total control over your work, and you have some room to lead from below. Look for something awesome you could be doing, and drag him along for the ride. Sounds like he is a bit of a credit leech, but then again, this is a common problem. Let him take credit, and maybe he'll get the opportunity to go to greener pa$ture$ and you'll get his job. What would YOU be doing then? And why not do it now?

[AFK]

I'm basically just bitchin because it's been pretty clear this organization couldmgive a fuck about substance abuse prevention.  It's good in that I more or less get to blaze my own trail, and it has afforded me the luxury to work and serve as a quasi-public official on the state level. Getting validation at the stae level is great and I certainly can't complain about that.   But it would still be nice to get that at the home office, and feel that the organization, philosophically, is a bit more invested than it lets on. 


And I also believe it's a part of the stigma with this kind of work.  It's an icky topic, it isn't warm and fuzzy.  It isn't giving kids apples and jump ropes. 

[Faust]

You Have autonomy. Do whatever you feel is necessary, expand your responsibility as much as you can handle, do it with purpose and do it well. Until you are fired or awarded.

[The Wizard Joseph]

You can't lead by sitting around.

Isn't that the exact reason they call it middle management, not middle leadership?

THIS!

He sounds like he has got the middleitis. Either he has no real leadership training, or this is the best he knows to do with what he has.

With respect RWHN, it would seem to me that if you want the board and your "superiors" to engage and understand whatever it is you do, and your motives, it is on you to find the means to do so. This may involve considerable extra effort and letting this guy sit in the middle as you go around him. You can likely avoid pique from him if you make it clear in a letter, that he will likely glaze over, what you intend to do.

Alternatively you can consider communicating your concerns and thoughts to him and COUNT on the fact that he may run with them like they're his. This makes you the person with leverage and may be far more efficient if you don't care about validation and only want results. Just sacrifice the need for credit.

Just my nickel's worth of free advice, sir. Hope things go well for you whatever you do.

THIS!!

Bonus points for convincing him he's thought of the best idea ever then, when it turns out to be a fucking disaster, you refuse to take any responsibility for his decisions. Basically this dude can be used as a human shield between you and failure. Have some fun with it.

Yes, but.. but..what about goals and building effective, organized consensus toward them for the common good?

You Have autonomy. Do whatever you feel is necessary, expand your responsibility as much as you can handle, do it with purpose and do it well. Until you are fired or awarded.

Quite wise Faust! Considering the goal involved, it would be well to remember that the level of responsibility one can handle increases exponentially when one can get others on the bus with you. Even in seemingly small ways.

I'm basically just bitchin because it's been pretty clear this organization couldmgive a fuck about substance abuse prevention.  It's good in that I more or less get to blaze my own trail, and it has afforded me the luxury to work and serve as a quasi-public official on the state level. Getting validation at the stae level is great and I certainly can't complain about that.   But it would still be nice to get that at the home office, and feel that the organization, philosophically, is a bit more invested than it lets on. 


And I also believe it's a part of the stigma with this kind of work.  It's an icky topic, it isn't warm and fuzzy.  It isn't giving kids apples and jump ropes. 

If that's the sort of line you're into I totally forgive the puns sir.

Perhaps it could be. Not necessarily literally, but events have a way of sticking in a kid's mind better than text. So do simple items that represent the event. Especially if they "won" the item.

If you work for a private organization funded by govt' then they are likely interested in measurable results because this will lead to more funding and bigger paychecks. They don't need to have an ideological motive, IMO, if the results can be tallied. In this case the result is fewer kids on drugs. If you can focus on that, then success will be a strong motivator alongside the money.

[AFK]

It's just something to live with.  I mostly wanted to vent but I appreciate the input. I've just become increasingly frustrated with this place and my boss.  I remember when we were hiring the new director I had him ranked at the bottom of the candidate pool because I thought he would be a horribly impotent leader and he's proven me right.  He's better than the last guy who literally spent more time hanging out at Starbucks than trying to grow the agency.  And he's a nice guy, he just has no vision.  And he knows there is a problem with the organization as far as recognition of the substance abuse work, he just clearly doesn't have the motivation to do anything about it.  So I've been chipping away at it, and have made some progress...


I have to admit I'm also frustrated because he seems to be taking his sweet time getting my promotion through, while I'm already doing the work of a manager.

[The Wizard Joseph]

I'm here to help sir! Your occupation is laudable and if you need to vent or wish to brainstorm on something related specifically to abuse prevention, anytime.

[AFK]

Well the good news is that my official promotion seems to be just around the corner, giving me, officially, free reign to develop this program more or less the way I see fit.


I've also learned that I think my boss is more or less intimidated by me.  When I was not called into a certain planning meeting, and he could tell I was pissed that he didn't call me in, he came into my office, with his tail between his legs, shaking like he was on his 10th coffee.  He was so nervous he ran smack into the door on his way out. 

[The Good Reverend Roger]

It's just something to live with.  I mostly wanted to vent but I appreciate the input. I've just become increasingly frustrated with this place and my boss.  I remember when we were hiring the new director I had him ranked at the bottom of the candidate pool because I thought he would be a horribly impotent leader and he's proven me right.  He's better than the last guy who literally spent more time hanging out at Starbucks than trying to grow the agency.  And he's a nice guy, he just has no vision.  And he knows there is a problem with the organization as far as recognition of the substance abuse work, he just clearly doesn't have the motivation to do anything about it.  So I've been chipping away at it, and have made some progress...


I have to admit I'm also frustrated because he seems to be taking his sweet time getting my promotion through, while I'm already doing the work of a manager.

It may not be him.  I have to move heaven and earth, and WAIT on HR before I can promote any of my guys.  They always think I'm dragging ass, but I'm not.

As far as the autonomy thing goes, pick the fucking thing up and run off into the sunset with it.