Can't Do Anything Right

kate_ce1995 · Post by **kate_ce1995** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:17 pm

Well, my whole office is having issues with our boss not being satisfied with anything we do. Every report or letter we write gets ripped apart. Our decisions are always lacking no matter how thourough a job we do. He's at it again with another report of mine and reports to me that its taking longer to review because he is finding too many errors. Now I'm left with this sinking feeling because it seems like no matter how hard I try, I still come up short. One can only convince oneself that they do good work for so long without some reinforcement.

Worse yet, we are undergoing "group counseling" as an office because this spring he was close to a nervous breakdown and was told by one of his fellow owners of the firm that he needed to let go of the details and let us do our jobs. His solution was to bring this counselor in to help us develop tools to deal with stress management as he pushes more responsibility onto us. Well, its turned in to an all out bitch fest. Boss thinks its us staff with a problem, ingeneral we staff think he has a problem. We have our next meeting in 15 minutes....in fact said counselor just walked into the office (I'm hiding).

It just makes me question the my abilities, and whether I'm in the right profession. I love the work we do, I think I do really good work and multitask well (I bill around $30,000 to $35,000 a month for the company), but without positive reinforcement I feel like I'm getting worse at what I do instead of better.

Well, I should get wrapped up on today's tasks so I'm prepared for the meeting.

Katy

PS: Worse yet I found out from our AA this morning he is going to be out most of next week. He hasn't told any of us this yet and here we are making commitments to our clients that we won't be able to meet because nothing can go out without his review.

barbaranoela · Post by **barbaranoela** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:36 pm

Katy-----At times the harder one tries----it seems to another party that it still isnt good enuf---or else there is envy as to what U accomplish---

Thats only my scenario of all this----U know your work is A-1---

Group Counseling???? that bewilders me---maybe the BOSS should take time off and get counseling---again my opinion---which @ times my opinions dont go over to well with peoples---

I found that out just thru *daily* living!!!!

Dont beat yaself up---seems to me U R always on target with your work!!!

luve Barbara

hazel · Post by **hazel** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 5:39 pm

Good grief! Will be interesting to hear how the meeting went today. Keep your chin up and a stiff upper lip!! Gee, I'm not sure what that stiff upper lip one means, but I think it's appropriate.

= picture of your boss going yap, yap, yap over your report.

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 5:44 pm

Micro managing doesn't do anyone any good if you ask me! Obviously you know how to do your job or you wouldn't have it! If he would let everyone alone to do their job, his wouldn't be so hard! Geeesh!!!

Hopefully someone will figure that out soon. I agree, individual counseling is what is needed and it's NOT YOU that needs it!!!!!

Keep your chin up Katie - hope things improve soon! Hey.....he's out all next week! Relief for you guys!

Love,
Mars

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:26 pm

I agree with Mars, micro-managing does NOT work!!!

Love, Shirley

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 6:02 am

Morning Mars,

Boy does this scenario sound so familiar but without the counseling. I personally could not handle it and that is why I left my job in July. I think it is the boss who needs the counseling and the company should know that and not put the rest of the staff through counseling. As a group, you may want to address this issue to management but be careful in the approach or they may take it wrong.

Good Luck and Love, Maggie

kate_ce1995 · Post by **kate_ce1995** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 6:29 am

Unfortunately in our small office, our boss is our management. The rest of the company management is in CT and is supportive of this approach. But then they don't live with us day in and day out.

We were actually supposed to have this meeting last week, but after meeting with just us staff the facilitator decided she needed to meet with our boss 1 on 1 before the group got together again.

Now here I am, back at work, and absolutely exhausted. Not to mention, our AA brought in candy corns to get us through it and so I ate sugar for 2 hours! So needless to say my tummy doesn't feel so good.

Katy

Post by **tex** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:42 am

Hang in there Katy,

Remember - you're an engineer, and engineers can do anything, if they want to.

Tex

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:50 pm

Hi Katy.....Maybe the Boss is lacking and not the staff and that's his way of feeling better about his lack of Professionalism. Hang in you are good at what you do, keep saying that and don't let someone tell you different. Love Oma

Peggy · Post by **Peggy** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 9:58 am

I like Tex's advice!

You Go, girl!

Love ya
Peg