I have a micromanaging VP at my company and am l losing my work-life balance from a job I loved up until recently.

7 Comments

1. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 10:43PM UTC

   You don't say a single thing to anyone. Let her form her own opinion based on her personal experience. S h e may end up loving him. Your experience is your experience. Be professional and keep the quality of your work high. Don't get into the weeds on your personal opinions. While you look for a new position, try to keep your head down and don't give him any reason to come after you for termination.

2. Eileen MApril 14,2024 at 1:03PM UTC

   Way to have the forethought of not allowing this VP's behaviors and lack of leadership impact your wellbeing. Yes, definitely share your concerns with your new manager in a solution-seeking way. It can be as general as how better to prioritize or anticipate work to as a specific as this is a recent challenge I had, and I would love to get your fresh perspective on how it could have been better handled from deprioritizing the request until your return to getting more visionary details so the deliverable was more on-target.

   Whatever you choose will be right for you.

   PS I would also seek to claw back those days you worked on vacation. It's unfair to lose vacation time that you didn't truly take.

3. AnonymousApril 14,2024 at 1:36PM UTC

   I generally agree with this, but I would like to emphasize that the OP approaches the topic from the side of setting priorities and assigning tasks. The tone of this first meeting should be positive and collaborative, as it will set the tone for the professional meeting going forward.

4. AnonymousApril 14,2024 at 1:31PM UTC

   The only answer I can think of if I were in this situation is start looking for another job. As this won’t get better. Don’t waste energy or time with the new boss. They will develop their own opinions and politically since they are just joining, they are going to try to align with the VP for job security even if they privately agree with you. I’ve seen this time and again at least initially which will further demoralize you. Take care yourself and seek new work but in the interim try to work with this VP and continue your high quality of work. When the VP talks just listen cordially. Thank them for the observations as this is more about their ego, than you anyways. Try not to take it too personal, sometimes people can just be crappy and it has nothing to do with you.

5. AnonymousApril 14,2024 at 2:25PM UTC

   Hopefully this project is a one off and the new boss will serve as a cushion in the future between the two of you. Clearly, your director boss that’s getting let go isn’t working out.

   As the vice president of analytics, it would be expected that he would be very particular, so I can understand why he would take issue with formatting and not want draft-like work. He seems more demanding than micromanaging to me actually and doesnt care what your timeframe(s) or current workloads are tbh. He just wants what he wants when he wants it and perhaps your boss didnt meet his expectations and that is why she is getting replaced not necessarily because she’s a bad employee.

   Just things to think about.

6. AnonymousApril 14,2024 at 7:07PM UTC

   If this is the style of how this VP will be pushing out their urgent needs perhaps speak directly to them about your work flow and the lead time you need and information to get their requests done once and correctly. Come up with a request form just for them. Clearly what you delivered wasn't what they wanted because they likely just tossed it over to you assuming you could read their mind. Train them on how to work with you, especially since they are skip level and don't know how you do what you do and when and timing needed to get it done. Don't place blame on the past, educate for the future. If you bring this up to the new direct manager (please shift from the word boss) let them know how your team has had to deal with firedrills in the past and that it is not sustainable for your team to work that way. Be sure you do not mention names but say that when things come from above you will need their air cover to set expectations. It seems like setting expectations all round can solve this. If you think otherwise and assume it cannot then finding another company is the only solution. I don't think its the best option, as it seems like you are experience and just need to set firm delivery expectations when you manage up.

7. AnonymousApril 14,2024 at 8:23PM UTC

   You've been working very hard under tough conditions. If you stay with this company, consider asking the VP or their Assistant if the VP has any favorite examples of presentation format. Does your company have any standard examples of presentation format?

   When faced with competing obligations, consider asking the top ranking person which project they want you to focus on, since you can't reasonably do all of them at once. Receiving an urgent big project right before a fully planned long range trip is as rough as it gets.

   Though it's true that your new soon to be Manager will need to align themselves with the VP, you can still partner with your new Manager by sharing what the VP's workstyle and expectations are so that both of you are in step with the VP. Try to determine if your new Manager and the VP know each other already.

   The fact that the VP disrupted your trip that was connected to filling promises made to clients is very serious.

   Unless the content of your presentations are confidential, consider selecting one or more colleagues who would be willing to review your draft work before it's sent to the VP. Do you work with anyone who has sent the VP presentations in the past? Does your company store all documents in a database that you or a colleague could search for past examples?

   The VP or his Assistant might even be willing to review draft presentations/documents in the future ahead of deadline.

   Best of luck with this.