I'm threatening to my boss.

In My Humble Opinion
1

I was promoted to Assistant Manager in December of last year. It was a promotion that I worked very hard to get. From December to April I dealt with the boss from hell, who pretty much told me that she wouldn’t teach me anything I needed to know and that she would do everything in her power to have me terminated. That pretty much blew up in her face and she had been dismissed by April.

After that, a new maanger was brought in. She’s much nicer than the last one, however she is scatterbrained in most ways, very indecisive and has taken more vacation time off since she arrived then time that she’s been at work.

We do get along well, but we disagree on most things. We pretty much simply respect each others thoughts, and agree to disagree.

Due to her lack of focus, I do the majority of the work. I do monthly reports, handle financial matters, do scheduling, deal with the staff, attend meetings, organize events, do the direct care, over see maintence, you name it. I am constantly going.

I don’t so these things to overshadow anyone, but because I want to do my job well. I want another promotion sometime in the not too distant future. But I am not seeking to overthrow my boss in the process.

I don’t take work away from her, but if something needs to be done and she hasn’t gotten the time to do it, I do, just to get it out of the way.

This week, we had a disagreement. It was not heated, just the normal stuff. After that, she told me that I was very threatening to her. According to her, it is becasue I do the job so well and that she feels that she cannot keep up.

I’m not really sure how best to deal with this. I am not comfortable with doing a crappy job intentionally. Any advice?

2

Unfortunately it’s easy to get into certain routines at work.
You seem to do some of her work and she doesn’t appreciate it.

This is not good.

I don’t know the exact situation, nor the people, but I would be documenting your work and speaking to somebody (HR? Your boss’ boss?) about this - before it blows up and your boss accuses you of something.

3

The Machiavellian approach is to stop doing her work for her, knowing she’ll get in trouble (and maybe fired or transferred), at which point her job will be available for someone to take.

And since the People Higher Up know what a great job you’ve been doing (you have been telling them, right?), you’ll be the first choice for the vacant position…

4

Meh. She’s just jealous of your hickey.

(Thank you hilarious sequential threads!)

5

Well, yeah, it is a bit obvious, and you should have made the point during your first one-on-one interview with her.

“I want your job. The easiest way to get it, is for me to help you get promoted. Deal?”

But you missed that opportunity. So, schedule a one-on-one, and tell her, “As long as I am dealing with the minutiae of the position, you are free to address policy matters, and represent our department to the corporate officers (or whomever).”

You also have to respect her responsibilities; present work as drafts, for her review and approval; if you make a decision in her absence, phrase it as 'I think Boss Lady would want you to do this"; and always, always, always make her look good to those above and below.

6

Not to be overly snarky, but does your username reflect your personality at all? Because it is an interesting post-username combination.

Is your manager doing an acceptable job by her manager’s standards?

I might have more advice, but it hinges on the question above.

7

No, my username is what it is because Dragon is the name of a book I was reading at the time I joined this (my very first) message board and did not know what else to call myself.

I honestly don’t know if her job performance is of good quality to her supervisor, who is also my supervisor. I know that mine is good, my director has told me as much. I would be inappropriate for me to ask about my manager.

I do become frustrated with my manager, but I never say a word about it to the staff and I don’t criticize her to our director either. I simply try to work with the differeances that we have.

8

Keep doing what you do. Don’t say more to her about it. She told you she can’t compete. It would be stupid to do worse just so she looks better.

9

Seconded.

10

Without asking, there are some clues you can look for. Was she promoted into this job when your other manager left, or was it a lateral transfer? If there are bonuses/awards/ recognition, does she get them? Does your director give your manager responsibilities that involve interacting with people outside the department/organization? If your manager proposes organizational changes that require approval, do they get approved? Is your department’s budget growing, or at least holding its own against other departments?

You don’t need to answer all these questions in the thread, they’re just to help you figure out the situation for yourself. It’s always wise to know how your manager relates to the rest of the organization.

11

Thirded.

And document everything that you do (and whatever communications you have with your boss), in case she attempts to lowball you to her superiors to make you look bad to them.

12

This may or may not be bad advice depending on your goal.
What is your goal? Do you want to have her job? Do you want to just keep the job you have for awhile while you pay off bills and start your own business? Do you want to be president of this company someday?

I would start out by WRITING DOWN a goal for this situation. Not just thinking about, not just noodling over, not just talking about, but writing down a goal.

Having said that, if I were in your shoes, and I wanted to keep this job my main goal would be do everything in your power to make your boss look good to those above her. Sounds counterintuitive right, she’s kind of incompetent, and you are on top of your game.

13

I have to agree with those people who said to document everything. Don’t give her anything to use against you if she really thinks you are a threat and keep records of everything in case she tries to get rid of you to eliminate said threat.

14

If you are doing her work, don’t give it to her when you are done with it. Give it directly to the person who is supposed to get it. After some time enough people will notice that you seem to be doing her job.