Manager is completely incompetent

Ja7188

This is hard to know, because there's little opportunity to learn. Their own manager has a much more distant relationship with us, probably because they are in charge of about 200 people and being so busy - we only hear from them occasionally.

So it's not clear what is thought about them. They must be doing something right or at least within the threshold of screwing up to maintain the position, that's just common sense. The lack of transparency is a problem.

Sounds like this manager is unlikely to get the push and if they're as incapable as you say and hence unlikely to thrive anywhere else, they're unlikely to leave of their own accord.

Why is the lack of transparency a problem? It's not like they're withholding information that you need to know...

Really though it's unlikely that they're tasked with anything much more than high priority but uncomplicated work, or stuff that involves yelling at people. And that can't be impressive to anyone. Their main duty seems to be defending the status quo and I suspect they're heavily resented by a lot of people, though it's an efficient move to protect the higher ups, if that's what is going on.

If this manager has indeed been tasked with keeping the status quo then there is probably no realistic chance of anything changing - I suggest you step up your efforts to find another job in the meantime, get your head down and focus on your own role. If it's truly unbearable, consider taking on some temporary work as a filler until your next permanent position.

getmore4less

milkand1sugar wrote: »

Well for sure, except when it would be helpful not to mention respectful for us to know who is directing what instead of being left to go on fact-finding missions and calling around when we're inevitably questioned by another party for basic information. It can be frustrating if you're tasked to do something yet need to try and work out what it fully means in order to do anything.

There's also issues we face where we're so surprised at the lack of foresight that leads to their development. These things aren't rocket science; they could be handled, and increasingly it just looks like major things are left up in the air for someone else to deal with. Again it becomes our problem eventually when a different manager may task us with something and we find out later it hadn't been "agreed" to do things that way. This happens a fair amount.

But that is just incompetence on your part and those directly above if it keeps happening.

Everything should be referred back through your chain of command.

if new work comes in from outside that chain you make sure you management know you are doing the job and have agreed that your resource can do that rather than the work they need you doing.

Also seems you are a master of hindsite management

milkand1sugar

Ja7188 wrote: »

Sounds like this manager is unlikely to get the push and if they're as incapable as you say and hence unlikely to thrive anywhere else, they're unlikely to leave of their own accord.

I don't see how they could be tolerated somewhere else let alone thrive. So yes they'll likely be staying for a long time. Nobody expects them to go, because there isn't really anywhere for them to go. That's kind of sad to think about it.

Ja7188 wrote: »

If this manager has indeed been tasked with keeping the status quo then there is probably no realistic chance of anything changing - I suggest you step up your efforts to find another job in the meantime, get your head down and focus on your own role. If it's truly unbearable, consider taking on some temporary work as a filler until your next permanent position.

It's problematic but not an unbearable situation. A lot of people are dismayed at this so I'm not alone. Still, getting a new job is probably good advice.

milkand1sugar

getmore4less wrote: »

But that is just incompetence on your part and those directly above if it keeps happening.

How on earth is it our incompetence as workers if we're tasked something then told off for it? You haven't the faintest idea what I do or what you're talking about. If you're pitiful enough to try and aggressively lay blame at someone's feet to make sense of the situation, you're also doing this to the rest of us and our line manager. But I'm sure yourself a complete stranger to my industry with no experience or knowledge knows better than several people who've been here for years.

Blackpool_Saver

Sounds like ASD to me

robatwork

milkand1sugar wrote: »

Where do you people get off? I've hurt you. I'm sorry your ego is so fragile and you can't take what you dish out to others. You'd make an excellent authoritarian.


You'd do great in nazi Germany!

Well it took until the middle of page 2 to invoke G O D W I N ' S L A W I was holding out for another few pages until you went there.

getmore4less

milkand1sugar wrote: »

How on earth is it our incompetence as workers if we're tasked something then told off for it? You haven't the faintest idea what I do or what you're talking about. If you're pitiful enough to try and aggressively lay blame at someone's feet to make sense of the situation, you're also doing this to the rest of us and our line manager. But I'm sure yourself a complete stranger to my industry with no experience or knowledge knows better than several people who've been here for years.

this is what you said.

Again it becomes our problem eventually when a different manager may task us with something and we find out later it hadn't been "agreed" to do things that way. This happens a fair amount.

You should check with your managers so it does become agreed before you start.

if it keeps happening the the blame is squarely at you and your managers for not being clear in advance what it is that needs doing and how it should be done.


This is really basic stuff in any job, you learn from your mistakes(when you understand what they are)

eamon

Ranting on social media is fine, just don't make your real self easy to identify. Anyway back to point, yes the thread is amusing. Seriously there is little you can do as already advised.


Most managers are pretty good at their job. Poor managers are becoming more difficult to identify and weed out before they do real harm to a business. They conceal themselves by using management speak (to normal people talking "S**t or B*******"), when talking with their boss. Somehow this confuses the recruiters and because management and HR are reluctant to admit to "f****** up" this error takes a long time (if ever) to be corrected. In the meantime good working teams/relationships get destroyed, morale & productivity plummet and good people will leave and or go off on long term sick.

ReadingTim

Googling 'the peter principle' might help, although if said individual is so bad yet still above you in the food chain, then you might want to have a think about your own abilities too...

SueC_2

milkand1sugar wrote: »

We're all tired of their behavior, it's out of control. It's really unfair and difficult to everyone. Plus its clear that they simply don't have the skill to do what they're supposed to do. What's the options? Put up and shut up?

You can't change their behaviour. You can control yours.


Work hard, build relationships, build a (good) reputation. Cream will rise to the top eventually.