Monday, May 4, 2009

Someone Had to Say It

Today has been a total Monday. Are you ever just sure you shouldn't have faced the world on a specific day? Maybe you're in a foul mood or short-tempered. Maybe the world seems out to get you. Maybe both?

From the moment I arrived and learned a VP - who is high enough on the food chain to know better - had sent a nasty email to one of my staff, the day just went downhill from there. I mean, seriously, this guy makes 5 times what she does in salary and he has the nerve to throw an e-mail tantrum. My favorite part was where he honest-to-god sounded like a 3-year old.

"I want the bullets laid out as sent. I want the figures and logos inserted as sent. I want the pages laid out as scoped."

Can't you just hear the whining, sobbing, and foot stomping on this one?

And, I guess, I was just in the mood to take this on today.

Initially, I was absolutely stunned. And yet, I don't know why I should be. This same guy has left sticky notes on staff desks the day after they worked a 12 hour day to meet his deadline which said, "You could do better next time." (and yes, he was serious). And he is also the famous author of the unknown acronym [FBSTCHAC] he wrote on a draft presentation markup, which apparently stood for Fix Background So That Column Headers Are Clear and was pissed we didn't know what he meant.

Since I was "just in the mood" - I forwarded it to his boss. Then I had a discussion with his boss on how to complete the assignment appropriately - taking full ownership of any failures on our part and making no judgment comments upon the VP. Lastly, I sent an email to the subject VP noting how we were going to fix the situation and deliverable and closed with this line:

"In the future, I would appreciate it if you did not respond to my team in a harshly worded email if you do not get what you are looking for but come back to me so I can address it. The buck stops here, as they say."

Think I committed career suicide?

To tell you the truth, I don't even care.

Someone had to say it.

5 comments:

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

I hope it wasn't career suicide and I'm sure your staff appreciates you having their backs.

Mama Lou said...

Oh yea that damn PMS again but all joking aside I think you did the right thing and hopefully everyone else will think so also.
Sorry if I loaded one more thing for you to answer yesterday in my e-mail

Ian Lidster said...

Did I send you the URL to my new blog? If I did, you are getting it again. If not, then you now have it. Hope you will come and see me at http://mrwriteon.wordpress.com/.
Oh, and the good thing about Mondays. They always end and they come no more often than Fridays. It just seems like they do.

Jude said...

YOU GO GIRL!!!

Jo said...

That sound you hear is me applauding. The office bureaucracy needs more folks like you, who will stand up and tell the idiots where to go. :-)