Wasting My Time
Boss being how he is, no one actually wants to talk to him if it can be helped. As a result I've worked independently for a while, with little or no information exchange between him and me. Boss has decided he does not like this vacuum and so today was the first of ongoing weekly meetings reviewing what I accomplished last week and outlining what I intend to do this week.
Immediately we got into an argument over Kintera. He had repeatedly told me that staff's dislike of Kintera was due to their inability to use the tool. Ignoring the obvious questions about training, I gave him my opinion as an IT professional who actually has gone to Kintera training (post).
His usual threatening and belittling prattle ensued regarding any research on my part for alternatives to Kintera. Some time ago he had ordered me not to pursue such research but today I purposely informed him that I have done so on my own time. My aim at this point was to escalate this argument. Stress and frustration shouldn't only flow one way.
Now I was wasting his time and was told I should not be doing this on my time either. All this amused me for several reasons.
1) He never uses Kintera so how he disregards anyone's opinion is beyond me.
2) He made one of his minions delete several thousand records at 100 records at a time (yes, that's right!). Kintera doesn't allow more than that through their web-interface. However if Kintera ever gets back to you, they can do it with one push of the delete key. Somehow my seeking alternatives to a bad situation was a waste of time but deleting several thousand records, 100 at a time because the company refuses to get back to you, is efficiency.
3) He now presumes he has control over my personal life. I love it!
I've never behaved this way at work. Then again, I've never been treated this way at a job. I've worked for multi-millionaires with their own startups; Yale, Harvard, and Wharton graduates; IT engineers leagues over my abilities; even government bureaucrats, and no one has ever threatened, insulted, belittled, or disrespected me like boss has. This nobody has done it all.
The oddest thing: as a result of maintaining limited communication, people around him tend to fail often. When one fails he rewards with compassion. It's almost as if success is threatening to him, preferring rather that those around him fail so his status as top dog maintains. Odd behavior for a CFO - for any manager, in fact.
I'm done with this. He's right, I am wasting my time, but not because of what I do but in dealing with him. My resumes are going out tonight. I hope I can stick with non-profit but with twins on the way, I don't have the flexibility I once did.
Wish me luck.
Immediately we got into an argument over Kintera. He had repeatedly told me that staff's dislike of Kintera was due to their inability to use the tool. Ignoring the obvious questions about training, I gave him my opinion as an IT professional who actually has gone to Kintera training (post).
His usual threatening and belittling prattle ensued regarding any research on my part for alternatives to Kintera. Some time ago he had ordered me not to pursue such research but today I purposely informed him that I have done so on my own time. My aim at this point was to escalate this argument. Stress and frustration shouldn't only flow one way.
Now I was wasting his time and was told I should not be doing this on my time either. All this amused me for several reasons.
1) He never uses Kintera so how he disregards anyone's opinion is beyond me.
2) He made one of his minions delete several thousand records at 100 records at a time (yes, that's right!). Kintera doesn't allow more than that through their web-interface. However if Kintera ever gets back to you, they can do it with one push of the delete key. Somehow my seeking alternatives to a bad situation was a waste of time but deleting several thousand records, 100 at a time because the company refuses to get back to you, is efficiency.
3) He now presumes he has control over my personal life. I love it!
I've never behaved this way at work. Then again, I've never been treated this way at a job. I've worked for multi-millionaires with their own startups; Yale, Harvard, and Wharton graduates; IT engineers leagues over my abilities; even government bureaucrats, and no one has ever threatened, insulted, belittled, or disrespected me like boss has. This nobody has done it all.
The oddest thing: as a result of maintaining limited communication, people around him tend to fail often. When one fails he rewards with compassion. It's almost as if success is threatening to him, preferring rather that those around him fail so his status as top dog maintains. Odd behavior for a CFO - for any manager, in fact.
I'm done with this. He's right, I am wasting my time, but not because of what I do but in dealing with him. My resumes are going out tonight. I hope I can stick with non-profit but with twins on the way, I don't have the flexibility I once did.
Wish me luck.
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9 Comments:
Good for you!!! I've been lurking on your blog for a while now, and I'm sure any number of companies would be thrilled to have you. Best of luck!
By Chris, at 30 October, 2006 16:43
I just started reading this blog (per the techno babes) and thank you for this. I am going through the exact same thing and it is just awful.
By Ruth, at 30 October, 2006 17:18
Good luck! I hope it's not too long before you get another job.
By Paul Morriss, at 31 October, 2006 04:24
Good luck in the search. I think many of us have been in that position at some point. If you can't be heard then it is time to move on to an organization that can better use your skills. It is all about stewardship of resources. It sounds like your current boss needs a dose of reality.
By rallyfan, at 31 October, 2006 08:42
I can't blame you - but what a shame for your organization. I'll be in touch by email if I think of folks you ought to be calling.
By Michael Stein, at 31 October, 2006 09:42
Working for a boss who you respect is so important. Best of luck with your search and hope you end up in a place where you are more appreciated.
By Norman Reiss, at 31 October, 2006 15:42
go for it! i've worked for some terrible bosses, but finally found one who respects and appreciates my contributions. we should all enjoy that.
By Anonymous, at 31 October, 2006 21:33
Good luck wiht the job search!
Your plight sounds all too familiar. Nonprofits are *not* known for their innovative or productive management cultures. :-(
Bass bosses are so emotionally debilitating. There's only so long a healthy person can stand that.
By Ruby, at 05 November, 2006 22:09
Kintera has a great sales team that convinces decision makers that their product is the best $90,000+ they'd ever spent. Once purchased, the IT department is stuck with it--and stuck trying to devise work-arounds to the multitude of the program's flaws and shortcomings.
Seriously, I hate Kintera. I think it's a terrible mess and the whole company business model is a scam. The only reason it's ever worked is due to the persistence of IT people who are creative enough to keep coming up with fixes and work-arounds. Good luck. Kintera sucks.
By Anonymous, at 16 November, 2006 13:16
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