Does anything good ever come of confronting a bad manager?

Question

My new supervisor (as of May 1) has communication issues, delegation issues and in general makes me want to quit my job. My husband really wants me to email her and management about my concerns with her management style and with other organizational issues going on in my company/department. I feel completely anxious and wonder if there is ever really a good result from such confrontations. My manager is in very tight with the director, so even though I am quite popular and keep getting promoted, I feel the most likely outcome is pissing off management and being treated differently from now on. Does confronting such issues ever lead to a stronger relationship with your boss? Does it ever actually spur change in an organization? Or is it just a stupid move?

Answer 1

SOME TIME PEOPLE REQUIRE TO TAKE SOME "NEGATIVE" EXPERIENCE ALSO IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIFE.

  "NEGATIVE" EXPERIENCE ALSO MAKES YOU STRONG.TO MAKE YOUR PERSONALITY 360 DEG RES. THAT MEANS "ALL ROUNDER" SO DON'T THINK MORE ABOUT THE ISSUE. IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS TO FACE THE SITUATIONS COMES IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE.

  "BEST OF LUCK".

Answer 2

It can but it depends on how you go about doing it, you should not confront your manager but approach her or ask for a meeting, and politely explain some of the issue you are having. Let her know that with the new changes there has been some new stress that have come about and you are looking to deal with them better, that you would like to have a strong professional relationship with her and would like to make these changes a smooth transition and then bring up some of the issue, like for communication give an example of something she did, and explain you weren't sure how to take it.  Yes, it sounds flowery and a bit dorky but you want to say something like that so she feels she is being asked and respected rather than you are challenging her authority.  People like her can come in like a lion because she has a chip on her shoulders and wants to prove herself.  For difficult people like her you need to learn how to work with them, and communicate w/that type of a person - it may suck because you feel like you changing, but view it as your manipulating the situation for yourself.  And though you might not like her changes, you may need her to explain why she is doing somethings these ways so maybe a bigger picture for you won't look so bad. Sometimes people like her come in demanding respect, but can soften if they are approached the right way.  And yes a lot of the time things don't change, but you won't know unless you try.  What I would do, is make some documentation of the things you feel she isn't doing right, but you'll also need proof or reason for how it should be done the way you think or it's been done in the past, you need to have justification for what she is doing wrong and a resolution.  Keep that documentation to yourself for now, document the meeting you have with her, and if things don't get better or get worse then you should approach her boss - the director present your case and documentation and see if he/she can help resolve the issue.  But like I said if it's done tactfully, professionally w/o coming into complain with the guns blazing, even though you may want to, you might find a peaceful compromise.  But like I said you have to try, otherwise you'll just be miserable.  And if it doesn't change and you want to quite at least you'll know you did everything you could have.  If you have an HR department, or Employee Relations person you may want to approach them for guidance as well, see what the company policies are for issues like this. 99% of the time you should try to resolve the issues w/your manager first, then her boss, and lastly your HR can be brought in if nothing has been done, most companies request you follow the chain of command, so HR should be brought in when you failed in the other 1st two tries, but HR is there to help, so if you want guidance what to do first you can see them before you do anything.  Also, if she is as bad as you say she is I'm sure other employees are as unhappy as you are, if no one speaks up nothing can be done, if it's get to HR encourage other employees to come forward so they can see this trend.

Good Luck,

Recruiter, Employee Relations Specialist

Answer 3

I am sorry to say in this scenario, it would not play to your advantage to confront your boss or his/her superior.  It would most likely be looked at as you could not handle/accept change.  Meaning the change in management style and the way the new manager runs the department.  Even though it would be wrong for the employer to hinder future promotions because you spoke up, that would most likely be the outcome.  Sorry for the negative insight to your question, but I must answer honestly.

Best wishes.

Answer 4

Based on many years of work experience at several different companies, both large and small, I must regretfully tell you that I can't recall one single time when confronting management ever made the slightest bit of difference.

Sorry. I wish I could tell you it will help, but I honestly don't believe it will.

Answer 5

=] see your HR person of the company. =] remember, you want to go ABOVE your manager and discuss issues with them that way they know if something happens it was coming.

though you can tell your boss off and then quit. though that wont be very professional.  

Answer 6

I am going through the exact same thing you're going through. After she wrongfully reprimanded me, I had to re-meet with her to defend myself. Yes, I was so blindsided by what happened. I have NEVER in all of my years, have been reprimanded, and her reprimand was WRONG, and I knew not to go to her director because they are in tight with each other. But I re-met with her, and she did not even listen to my defense.

I knew then that confronting doesn't work, and it never would with her. In my job, we have over 800 employees and 40 locations. Finally, another location close to my home has a position open, and I have internally applied for a "lateral move".

So the long and short of it...I tried confronting, and it didn't do a thing. It actually frustrated me more. My advice is if your company is like mine, make a lateral move to another location where this person is not your supervisor anymore.

I know what you're going through and I wish you many blessings.