Hey Delta,
My boss is a difficult person to handle. He keeps changing office policies and issuing memos every week for the most unnecessary things.
He makes impulsive decisions and imposes “solutions” only to make things worse. He never listens and keeps moving people around, it’s absolute chaos.
As for me, I am tired of cleaning after his (redacted). But my job pays well and I really like my role.
Is my boss a monster? Should I leave my job?
-- Anonymous Panda
First, a disclaimer before I lose my own job.
This column is a response to an actual query and does not pertain to any of my bosses in any of the companies I have been or am associated with.
Second, to Anonymous Panda, get your dignity out of that company in the soonest possible time (when you are financially capable) because your boss is clearly a pain in the (redacted).
My previous mentor, Mister M, taught me that management is all about finding the best people to fit an existing role or finding the best role to fit the existing people.
My rule of thumb that a workspace is properly managed is when the production house is meeting its required output and the people working in it are united.
But in your case, you seem to have the problem of a micromanager boss who clearly does not understand what he wants.
A boss who moves people around without thinking is counterproductive.
You see, in order for an employee to function well in a role, he has to consent to being in that role.
One of my friends recently was given an additional task at work as a sub to his supervisor. He never wanted the role and the additional workload messed up his personal alignment.
Now he is thinking of leaving the company. If my friend leaves, the company loses a solid reliable employee.
Perhaps right now, you are in a safe position that your boss won’t move you around. But what if he sets his eyes on you? You must be prepared for the sh-t-show your life is about to go through when that happens.
As for unnecessary memos and policies, do these contain measures that improve production?
If yes, they are necessary. If not, all the more reason to leave.
My previous manager taught me that interpersonal relationships with subordinates are more important in keeping a team united than all the memos in the world.
A verbal agreement within a team proves stronger than a forced memo.
Her team would create policies to resolve existing issues as they go along, making them effective with 99 percent compliance nearly all of the time.
This close-knit coordination between the production and the manager allows for a breathable workplace where the staff is able to suggest openly how things can change and innovate.
Now if your boss is a memo-gram (bad pun, I know), and his memos continue to cause production to go down, I don’t think that will change anytime soon.
I understand why you and your coworkers would feel suffocated.
So, if these things make you unhappy, you really should just leave.
Unless you own shares in that company, you don’t actually have to worry whether the company flourishes or not.
As an employee, you have the choice to stay or go based on the benefits you receive. That is in exchange for the good service you give.
Your high pay may be a comfort for now, but not at the expense of your personal alignment.
Trust me, you’ll find a company with a good working environment and the pay difference won’t matter much.
So get out of that monster cave and live a better life. Good luck, Anonymous Panda!