"You fixed the problem, the manager took credit. Who's experienced this?" Fri May-06-16 08:32 AM by Case_One
I'm a project manager for one of the worlds top 5 largest banking Software companies. And one of my banks put themselves in a bad situation that required me to reset their expectations, and it forced me to beg our Technical Data team to break a process and provide data results back 9 days earlier. This is a big deal because the Techs are on a super tight projection and production schedule because of volume and resources.
Well, the bank went behind my back and called an internal resource which then decided that is was a good idea not to come to me to get the facts (all emails saved), but rather go to other resources. These resources emailed me the chain, copying my Director (not my manager) to get an answer from me.
So, I get real proactive. Craft a detailed email response and save it as a draft. Then I Hit everyone back with a quick "Thanks for the notice. I will update everyone shortly.", so that I can prevent other's (that don't know squat) from jumping into the thread.
I reach out to the Tech Team Manager and ask for the impossible (9 days earlier delivery). I hit my Director up with the facts - He's aware and cool. I Ping my Manager - no response. So I drop by his office to break down the plan of action - he's good. I then hit the Techs with a sweet rah rah team effort email and beg them to help because they are the ones doing the work.
The techs agree to my date (9 days early delivery). This is a big deal because these dudes are process A-Holes and will shut you down or clown you in a broadcast email if you make a mistake.
Anyway, I hit the Bank back via phone and email, giving them the new dates that I was going to try to get anyway. The bank is feeling kind of shameful for going behind my back. But no worries they are clients and that's what they all do when they want stuff done out of process.
But when my manager found out that I was going to respond back to everyone on the original email, you know the one that was kind of hanging me out to dry, the was like no, don't respond, I will respond to everyone (the director looped him in on my earlier response). I was like WTF?
Then I see an email with him saying that the expedited date has been secured and that Jerome will be communicating the info to the customer. WHAT! I did all of that - You Didn't Build That!
Folks started giving dude high five emails and thanking him for getting involved. WTH? That dude didn't do CRAP!
But I'm cool. Yup. This is my status - do the work get the blame if something fails, get no glory if we win.
19. "So you're not going to edit your gov't name out of the post?" In response to Reply # 0
I guess it's too late since other's have already referenced it in replies, but I guess I value my own privacy too much to be willing to have my info floating out there like that so willingly.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
23. "You phucked up Homes...you joined a gang" In response to Reply # 0 Fri May-06-16 09:13 AM by DVS
Read that. Here's what I gleaned.
If you were proactive in hitting your director since your A was on the line...I'm sure you laid out a detailed response on what you did to resolve the issue.
If your Director is worth his snuff...he'll recognize that and file it. Your manager already knows you did the work...so let him catch them ataboys from the outsiders. Politics of the game.
Your main goals are to keep a paper trail, cover your britches and keep that work record spotless. That's what's in your control. Everything else is secondary.
Know you probably just had to vent, tho. It generally comes out in the wash
26. "whats your game? long or short?" In response to Reply # 0
if its short game then you call it up and fix it asap
if its a long game then you file that shit away and build cases on everybody so you know the exact lay of the land so you can game the shit out of everyone
for the record when I say "game the shit out of everyone" I dont mean for malicious intent, I mean that you know how people think and you are able to play the game in your favor....whatever the game is for you
29. "I'm good. This is the game. I'm just talking about it. " In response to Reply # 26
>if its short game then you call it up and fix it asap > >if its a long game then you file that shit away and build >cases on everybody so you know the exact lay of the land so >you can game the shit out of everyone > > >for the record when I say "game the shit out of everyone" >I dont mean for malicious intent, I mean that you know how >people think and you are able to play the game in your >favor....whatever the game is for you
30. "Here's what you do... " In response to Reply # 0
Go to your manager and congratulate him on a job well done. Be sincere about it, ask him if there's anything you can do to help him maintain this level of excellence, yadda yadda yadda.
Now, if he gives you the props privately and says, "I couldn't have done it without your work..." then you know that he's straight up and prolly just gotta cover his own ass in this situation. Shit happens, it be's like that. But that's the chain of command.
BUT, if he takes the credit to your face, well, fuck that nigga. Go to your director and point out the facts. Because if your manager will lie to you about the work you did, they'll lie to others about the work you didn't do.
34. "Cool. I understand that. So when the arrows come he better be ready. LOL" In response to Reply # 32
>I feed him the idea, he drops it in a meeting like it's his >own, then I field all the questions on facilitation and >implementation. > >I never outshine the master, I let him have the floor so he >can be the "expert" in the room. > >But we agreed to have it like that and he's the first one to >step up and take arrows for me if my shit don't work. >
========================================= I'm an advocate for working smarter, not harder. If you just focus on working hard you end up making someone else rich and not having much to show for it. (c) mad
37. "^^^Sigma 6 Ninja Certified..." In response to Reply # 35
BCC saved my fucking job.
We were in a meeting and folks was tryna pull a pile on and ain't know that my boss knew what was up already. Without that, I'da been on a performance plan and halfway out the door.
Printer-friendly copy 
Email this topic to a friend
General Discussion
