That’s it, Colin’s boss has had enough
“Dave, I asked Colin to do it. It should have taken him no more than half a day. That was weeks ago, I’m really frustrated, is he ignoring me, I’m the boss here, does he have no respect, what does he think he is getting paid for? Weeks have gone by and not a word. My butt is on the line, the Board is waiting for me, and I need it back from Colin so I can do my bit and present it. Colin is the one with the information, the know-how, he is shafting me here and yet not a word. And that’s just one line of my role, I have the same situation with half a dozen others, I’m sinking here. I know what is going to happen, I’m going to have to do it myself, I always end up having to do it myself. I’m working longer hours, taking work home, coming in to the office at weekends. Jenny is sick of it, I have hardly seen her in the last week and I haven’t seen the kids either, they are always in bed when I get home.
And there is just no end in sight, we have won a load more work and its coming at us like a steam train, I think all my people are flat out anyway so I feel guilty asking them and Colin to do more, but why don’t they be straight with me, tell me they are up to their eye balls and they need help as well, but no they just say “OK, yes I will do that” and then don’t. Are they useless, why can’t they just let me know where they are at with it? I’m going to have words with Colin, though it would be much easier to bite the bullet and just get it done myself.
I’m sure Jenny will understand if I explain to her, I’ve got the Board breathing down my neck. And I am doing this for her and the kids, without this job we’d be nowhere, yes I am going to tell her, I’m doing my best here.
And you know what, come to think of it I was a great engineer, so good they promoted me into management and then again into senior management but I was never prepared for this, no one ever told me how to get things done through people. I honestly think that to get something done round here I have to do it myself but I know that’s limiting and I just can’t do it any longer but how?
How do I get Colin to get it done, I’ve tried everything, telling him, cozying up to him, threatening him, offering him a bigger bonus, I’ve even offered him the “senior” tag to his job title and he takes it all and there is still no response. No one ever told me how to do this “people” stuff and HR, well they are bl—dy useless and all the while I am left here to fry.
Do you know what, the last time I spoke with Graham our HR director he said it was about my time management and he sent me on a three day time management course and when I got back I had so much catching up to do I never got to the time management stuff. I have been battling since trying to keep on top of 200 e mails a day and then there’s Colin, what the bl—dy hell am I going to do with him next. I think I’m approaching the end of the road with him. Though if I sack him, not that I could these day’s anyway, I still have the Board breathing down my neck and he is the only one that can really get this done.
Sh1t, this is hopeless, I feel hopeless … and I’ve just missed the twins’ school play. If I can just get through to the holidays, I’m sure things will be better after a break.
Actually, Dave, that feels better already. Now I just have to get through to the holidays”
Fred, I get your anxiety and thanks for you call. I realise you have to dash now though let’s meet so we can explore your situation further. In the meantime you might find my book on deep and deliberate delegation useful, you can get it from my website if you like.