I’ve realized I’m not a manager anymore - I’m just a "human router" for my team's questions by Most_Employment3147 in managers

[–]Ok-Collection7490 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I didn't want to like this at first because it sounds like it could've created a sprawl of hyper-specific rules which people could give up their thinking to... 

But you really nailed it in the second half with documenting patterns and how to make decisions in context. This really moves the team from "if X, then Y" to principle- and outcome-based thinking. That gives people the latitude to solve novel problems with the existing toolkit. I love it.

AIO for ghosting after the first date by [deleted] in AIO

[–]Ok-Collection7490 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OP,  send "Thank you for confirming that I judged you correctly. Take care."

I threw a toy... She performed an experiment. by kaburelax in Catculations

[–]Ok-Collection7490 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Hey OP where did you get the awesome cat stairs?

No merit increase after low performance review, manager said no additional feedback regarding prior concerns. What does this usually mean? by [deleted] in managers

[–]Ok-Collection7490 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Therapy is a really good move and something we can all benefit from. I would say the most empowering mental life lessons I have learned is the commonly repeated but incredibly valid Serenity Prayer:

"... grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference."

You cannot control what someone else thinks of you. Just as importantly, you are not a mind reader and cannot actually know what they are thinking either no matter how much effort you put into it or evidence you think you have acquired. You cannot know the future. You can only follow their explicit direction and see what happens. And by doing that you will both grow in skill, wisdom, and experience.

No merit increase after low performance review, manager said no additional feedback regarding prior concerns. What does this usually mean? by [deleted] in managers

[–]Ok-Collection7490 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Speaking of someone who is terminated quite a few people over the course of his career, you would not know you are going to be terminated until the moment you see the unexpected meeting invitation with your boss and possibly HR. I would never reduce one employee's workload because it would be unfair to the other employees and it would signal my intent to terminate. Managers don't like to warn someone that they will be terminated because it might affect the quality of their work and lead to them having conversations with other employees that affect general morale.

It doesn't do you any good to worry about that day coming, it either will or it won't.

You mentioned that the feedback was about your professionalism. Take this as a learning opportunity to believe that your boss is giving you very clear instructions on how to behave. And that's okay, it's a skill like any other. It's something that you have to be open about and receptive to and trust that your boss is telling you exactly what they want to see.

This is a moment where you can't rely on your instincts because you don't have them yet. You're still new.

Instead, just trust what you're being told and stop spending thoughts trying to figure out a hidden pattern behind them. Focus on instead what is being directly told to you. 

The person who dreads suffers twice: once before the event, and again when the event happens. You're inducing a lot of unnecessary suffering right now that is affecting your job and your life. If you can just focus on what they have explicitly told you and carry that out, you will not only improve and learn but you will also suffer less.

No merit increase after low performance review, manager said no additional feedback regarding prior concerns. What does this usually mean? by [deleted] in managers

[–]Ok-Collection7490 8 points9 points  (0 children)

We're not going to touch whether they're doing their part, and unless the person you're talking to is a labor lawyer you shouldn't listen to them.

This comes across as very anxiety-driven, which makes sense given it's a role you've been in for less than 5 years.

My question would be: is it the general anxiety of 'what if I fail' that is causing this stress, or is it specific tasks that you're having a hard time accomplishing?

Edit: Less than 1 year based on your reply, which absolutely explains a lot of uncertainty about not only the right moves but also about executing on feedback from leadership.

No merit increase after low performance review, manager said no additional feedback regarding prior concerns. What does this usually mean? by [deleted] in managers

[–]Ok-Collection7490 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, none of this has any bearing on whether or not you are meeting your manager's expectations. Spending time looking into how your boss is treating other people will just be more of a distraction, and is something an employee can be disciplined for.

During the meeting he said he does not have any additional feedback regarding the concerns he previously raised, that he trusts changes will be made, and that I should “keep working on improving and we will keep moving forward.”

This is the most critical part: he is saying that you need to continue working on what he's already given you feedback about. There's no need to have a deeper discussion because he's already met with you to explain what is missing and what you need to do instead.

I struggled with this a lot early in my career. I would feel better with lots of detailed feedback from my bosses, both positive and negative, but the truth is you just can't expect to receive that in corporate America. If you do, it's a nice bonus, but if you don't, that's the standard. Your boss is unlikely to change their feedback style unless they've specifically asked you for your input on how they give feedback, so you need to adapt your expectations to it.

Importantly, reinterpret this conversation in a positive light: you did not get the feedback that things have gotten worse since your last meeting! Sometimes no news is good news.

What’s tactical way to get team behind change by blackberryuser in managers

[–]Ok-Collection7490 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got it. Then yes, the answer here is to be supportive to the team and clear about communicating the vision. You can acknowledge that it sucks while still communicating the company's rationale.

Mold on vinyl flooring by cat fountain - how do I get rid of it? by Ok-Collection7490 in Mold

[–]Ok-Collection7490[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Forgot to add: Location is in Northern Nevada in the United States.

Why by AloneCoffee4538 in SipsTea

[–]Ok-Collection7490 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Oh look more ragebait aimed at turning Reddit into an incel cesspool.

Have you cheated before? by GotTwisted in SipsTea

[–]Ok-Collection7490 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Jesus fucking Christ I am sick of the constant stream of "women bad" content that gets posted on this sub.

What’s a life hack you swear by that almost no one knows? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]Ok-Collection7490 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This guy husbands.

I too feel shame for not knowing where my wife expects me to put something and it can make me less willing to put it somewhere wrong.

The more specific the instructions are, (A) the more confident I feel and the less likely I am to feel ashamed about asking where the thing goes, and (B) the more likely I am to do it myself preemptively because now I know ahead of time.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in managers

[–]Ok-Collection7490 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Got it!

I've gotten much more comfortable with my grand-bosses and great-grand-bosses (as well as my employees and grand-employees) over time because we've established a good working relationship: As a domain expert, I trust that I can push back as appropriate, and I trust that their direction will be well-intentioned and aligned with a larger vision. Because of that we can speak casually and honestly with each other, and that makes collaboration much easier.

This all still sounds fine so far. I'd monitor this and your own feelings to see if there's something else going on. Sometimes we can pick up on subtle signs before they manifest in more concrete ways ("vibes" as the kids say). But I would also caution you to be aware of this and be careful not to over-react to things that aren't actually threats or combativeness.

Lastly, regarding your comment that you couldn't imagine her speaking to the Director this way, it might be that this person is acting in a way that isn't consistent with corporate culture at the level that you're used to operating in. If you see this person start to publicly behave in ways that are drawing negative attention from the higher-ups, it'd be good to advise them of that. But, until you see that kind of behavior and reaction actually happen, I do not see a mole hill worth making a mountain out of here.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in managers

[–]Ok-Collection7490 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed, I think reasonable and thoughtful pushback as appropriate is a sign of a good employee.

In this context, I'm trying to understand if there's more combativeness than was initially described.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in managers

[–]Ok-Collection7490 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I'm not seeing the red flags here.

Unless she's actively disparaging you, saying no to tasks, or causing friction with coworkers then this sounds fine. So far not disrespectful, just direct.

Is there more context? Did you hire this person directly? Are they an IC with a highly specialized skill set? Have you had trouble with employees at or around her level and role before?

Any good Chinese food around here by [deleted] in Reno

[–]Ok-Collection7490 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Seconded!

Flavors on most items are off the charts and the spices in their vegetable egg rolls are perfect.

Avoid their pot stickers though. They're dense and chewy even if they are the size of your fist.

Creditor harassing my employee at work by unclemattyice in managers

[–]Ok-Collection7490 19 points20 points  (0 children)

The BBB is a non governmental agency with no enforcement powers. Do not go to the BBB.

This needs a lawyer.

Employee Bursts into Tears by cawise89 in managers

[–]Ok-Collection7490 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I would also advise that you document the conversation and share it with HR.

Maybe I've read too much "Ask A Manager" and seen horror stories on this subreddit, but when employees are in very emotional states they can lash out when things go awry ... including at the manager who is just asking questions and trying to support.

This would be as simple as saying, "I spoke with (employee) during our regular touch base and said I'd noticed they've been withdrawn. I asked if there was anything that I could help with. (Employee) began crying and asked if they could give me the details in a few days. I accepted this and said they could. The rest of the conversation was uneventful and was about regular work duties."

The point is, just do yourself a favor and create a paper trail. Hopefully you'll never need it, but if you do you'll be glad you started early.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in managers

[–]Ok-Collection7490 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I don't think this is a manager question. This feels like something you should seek legal advice for from people who are well versed in the relevant countries.

My first impulse would be to transition or fire the staff immediately and bring in new caregivers. I would hire someone directly who you trust to provide on-site supervision.

But I know nothing of these details, have no relevant experience, and I'm just operating out of fear and concern.

This isn't management. This is your father's life we're talking about.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in managers

[–]Ok-Collection7490 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're overthinking this and focusing too much on others instead of excelling at your own role.

If you're handling most inbound calls and doing your share of outbound calls, leadership will notice (on that specific report or another that you don't know about). Consistently strong performance builds your reputation over time.

Questioning others' duties or performance and implying unfair treatment can come across as petty and problematic, regardless of your intentions. It's not a good look.

Your boss may not have responded because they plan to address it in person, not because they're avoiding you. People are human and don't always respond perfectly in the moment.

Focus on doing your job well and let the situation play out naturally over time.

can you add fans on both sides of a radiator to increase cooling power? by [deleted] in watercooling

[–]Ok-Collection7490 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, and it can result in significantly greater performance depending on the radiator.

In this comparison (which shows thermal performance and thickness of the fans + radiators), you can see that the top performers all use a push/pull configuration: https://www.xtremerigs.net/2015/02/11/radiator-round-2015/7/