C-suite boss challenges - need advice please

Question

Hey everyone, thanks for reading this. I definitely need some advice: I’m a VP marketing, started 9 months ago; my boss rarely responds to me & has literally added weeks and months to key timelines because he sits on feedback. This impacts major projects. At the same time, he rarely responds to any slacks or emails, and cancels every weekly scheduled update. I’ve been working on a rebranding project for several months and when we did a soft launch 4 weeks ago to our president he loved it, wanted us to present to the parent company. Three days before that presentation, my boss stopped this in its tracks, didn’t give me any feedback except the branding was really good but not yet totally “there” and then went radio silent when I reached out to find time to dive into the feedback. No response for 2 weeks. Cut to today, when I reach out again after he cancelled yet another meeting, and now he tells me he’s going to take the next pass. Are all these signs that I should be looking for a new job? I’m undone & demoralized.

LISA MCCARTNEY · Answer

I'm of two mindsets.  One is cut and run which i feel like you are ready to do.  The other might be a little trickier.  Depending on your professional relationship with the president, you could schedule a meeting with him due to concerns.  Again this would totally be how you relate to him.

Anonymous · Answer

Is this happening to your peers? Do you meet with your peers regularly? Do you meet with any of his peers? What is your gut feel for why this is happening? What political channels can you work? Who's 'in' with the President?

ShellyB · Answer

I have absolutely no idea what you should do, but I wanted to let you know that I am so sorry that you are in this position!  Wacky strategic idea is that if the CEO has an assistant, maybe get that person to send you a note looking for the follow-up on X date at X time and then literally walk into your boss's office to state that you intent to go to that meeting and would you be able to collect the valuable input in advance?  Then get meeting on calendar.  I once worked for a boss that I was assigned to who spent a lot of energy ensuring that I never succeeded. These relationships never last long, so you can 'take this shot'-- but recognize that if this does not work out, it might be a toxic situation!

Anonymous · Answer

This happened to me as well. I was VP of Creative and had a long relationship with the CEO (I named and branded the company when we launched). Two years later as we grew, I got layered with a new boss who cancelled our weekly meetings every week an hour before, wouldn’t return emails, slacks, or calls.  Same as you. Meanwhile he was in constant meetings with another VP. My advice would be to get out. He doesn’t like you or your work or he is insecure about you. And you’re being gaslighted instead of receiving real feedback other than “I’ll take the next pass.” Which by the way is code for he doesn’t like your work.

If you wanted to try and make a shift and stay, you could ask him to include you in the next pass and ask him to “mentor” you. I know that sounds a bit humiliating, but if he’s ego driven (most are) this could appeal to his ego. That may not last though. Are you the only female leader by chance? If you are, you are in for a long, unpleasant ride.

In my case, nothing worked and I ultimately left. Also ask yourself if you even want to continue working in an environment where your projects go nowhere because the boss won’t even meet with you?

I’d seriously start looking while your dignity is still somewhat intact.

Maggie B · Answer

YIKES.
I'd start putting deadlines in communication and clearly telling him your expectation - 'I finished this thing and need feedback by 13 Feb 2020 - If I don't hear back, I will be proceeding by taking X, Y, Z steps in order to complete the project on the ABC timeline.'
Try and catch him at his desk and ask about that, too.  It could be that the company doesn't do well with hard deadlines (my current situation) and tends to roll them out.  If that's the case, you may just have to roll with the punches.  However, if there are other departments relying on you, that's something that needs to be clearly communicated, and he has to trust you to do your job without demanding that he give feedback he never actually provides.

Lisa Leslie Hefter · Answer

Your boss sounds like he may be very insecure-afraid he will be upstaged.  It is not a good sign that he cancels your one on ones and does not provide feedback.  Is there someone you can trust at your company to talk to about it?  It might help to know if he’s like this across the board or just with marketing.   I would also be very frank with him about how you feel and what you need.  And ask him why he cancels your meetings all the time.   Assuming he’s not a total jerk, he may be too busy, overwhelmed or just doesn’t realize what he’s doing.   Maybe you can come up with some ideas together.

C-suite boss challenges - need advice please

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