I think I may have screwed up

[WDWHound]

Sorry folks, this will be long, but I need someplace to vent. I think I have screwed up and I'm not sure what I can do about it.

The problem is complex, but it basically boils down to this. I manage a group of five people in my company. In the last year, my people were being overworked because other departments were either dumping part of their workload on my folks, or they were setting unreasonable deadlines for projects my group was responsible for. Well, after awhile, my people were getting too stressed out due to the workload and I felt I needed to take action before I started losing employees. I could not get any new employees approved, so that meant lowering the work load was my only option.

I went to the other department heads and asked for their help. They said they would work with me, but nothing changed. They just kept dumping their work on us and setting ridiculas deadlines. Then one day, an employee of mine burst into tears during a meeting. She told me she just could not keep going under these conditions. That was the last straw.

Long story short, I went over everyone's head straight to the president of the company. I explained the situation, produced reports which backed up my claims and asked him to step in. To his credit, he did just that. He contacted each manager involved and told them that they would work with me to fix the issue or else. It worked! I was able to set up procedures with the other managers that actually lessoned the workload on my folks and did not impact delivery dates by too much. Moral in my department shot way up and I was feeling pleased that I had solved a difficult problem.

Well, today I was walking past a conference room. The door was a jar and I overheard the managers inside talking about me. They were saying that I was unreasonable and had caused a big fuss over "nothing". The basic sentiment was that they didn't want to deal with me any more.

I just cant figure out what to do. I tried to be reasonable with them, but they wouldn't follow through. I didn't want to make a fuss, but I couldn't allow my employees to continue to be taken advantage of. I am so angry. I tried to do the right thing, but these guys are mad because I made them start taking responsibility for their own bad processes. I wasn't out to make anyone look bad or make life harder for anyone, I just wanted to help my people. Well, I did that, but now I'm not sure I can repair the damage I have caused with the other managers. My success has become a failure overnight.

(sigh) Today is not a good day. Thanks for listening.

 

[JerseyJanice]

{{{hug}}}

No words of wisdom. I think having things backfire on us occasionally is an unfortunate part of life.

Take care, pal.

 

[regi]

Hound, it sounds like you did everything right that you needed to do. The other managers may be upset right now, but hopefully they will realize you did what you had to do for your employees. It is hard when you have to work with people you know are angry with you, but it will pass. Just know that if I were one of your employees, I would be so thankful that you took the risk and made things work better. I'm sure they are very happy with you. I hope your day gets better soon.

 

[wdw4us]

must be one of those days. They screwed up, they got caught, had their hands slapped and they didn’t like it. TOO BAD. You did it for the good of the company and your employees. If they leave, who will take over their work load then? The need to grow up and deal with it.

Can you tell I’m in a mood. I’m not usually this way but today I am. Tomorrow should be better, for both of us.

Take care.

denise

 

[Kermit]

{{{Hugs}}} It's sad that the business world tends to be so cut-throat that most people don't care about other people's feelings. I, for one, think you did the right thing. You may end up having unfortunate reprocussions with your own career, but what you did for your employees was wonderful. I hope it does all work out eventually.

 

[caitycaity]

i think you did the right thing. since the massive layoffs at my company, we haven't had enough people to do all the work; i wish we had someone like you who was willing to do something about the problem.

 

[Boots]

I too think you have done the right thing! They really left you no other choice because you had already tried talking with them. {{HUGS}}

 

[SuiteDisney]

I hope things work out for you because I think you did the right thing.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Sorry you are having a bad day. I also think that you did the right thing. How could you have done anything else? Surely they will settle down and be friendly again after some time passes. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Disney Doll]

So, the other managers who are lazy and incompetent, and not doing their part of the job and got caught because you, after trying to work with them, had to go over their heads, are mad? Well, of course they're mad. Now they actually have to work for a living instead of dumping it onto you and your people. The next time you overhear them, my suggestion would be to stick your head in the door and say "next time, shut the door to the conference room if you're going to use it to talk about me behind my back, because I can hear every word you bunch of lazy slobs are syaing."

I can't stand incompetence, I can't stand laziness, and I can't stand people who for soem reason don't think they actually need to DO the job for which they are paid!

I wouldn't lose a minute's sleep over this. You did the right thing. THEY are the ones who screwed up, and now they're paying the price for their laziness.

 

[Disney Doll]

So, the other managers who are lazy and incompetent, and not doing their part of the job and got caught because you, after trying to work with them, had to go over their heads, are mad? Well, of course they're mad. Now they actually have to work for a living instead of dumping it onto you and your people. The next time you overhear them, my suggestion would be to stick your head in the door and say "next time, shut the door to the conference room if you're going to use it to talk about me behind my back, because I can hear every word you bunch of lazy slobs are syaing."

I can't stand incompetence, I can't stand laziness, and I can't stand people who for some reason don't think they actually need to DO the job for which they are paid!

I wouldn't lose a minute's sleep over this. You did the right thing. THEY are the ones who screwed up, and now they're paying the price for their laziness.

 

[SeaSpray]

You definitely did the right thing. Unfortunately, having to deal with the managers who were "slacking", is now part of it. You did not screw up. Don't let it get to you, Hound. They were caught not doing their part and now they're not happy. I have a feeling they'll get over it.

 

[doxdogy]

I don't think you screwed up at all. Looks like you followed the chain of command. They didn't want to do the work. Now they have to work and they don't like it. I think it is great that as a manager you care enough about your employees to go to bat for them.

 

[ead79]

It definitely sounds like you did the right thing to me. It's not fair for people in your group to be taken advantage of like that. I'm not surprised the other managers are mad at you--it sounds like they just don't want to have to do their share of the work and resent having to work now. Don't let that stop you from being proud. You did solve a difficult problem the right way!

 

[LindaR]

Are any of those people over you in the chain of command?????

Yep, you did the right thing.

I, however, would still update that resume and start a journal with dates/names/incidents.

People like that have a way of covering their butts and getting rid of people like you.

 

[SonjaB]

I don't think your actions backfired at all, I think you did the right thing for your people and it had the right consequence for those at fault. You tried working with them, you were ignored, you went over their heads to get done what NEEDED to get done. Are the other managers angry? Of course they are! They got called on the carpet for their own laziness and/or incompetence and they don't like it. Anger is a natural response to anything you don't like and blaming others is a natural response from those unwilling or unable to learn from their mistakes. Calling it "nothing" just means it was nothing to them. Your employees stress level was certainly "something" to you.

There is a sign at my sons' school that says "Courage is doing right when everyone else is doing wrong". You did the right thing for your people at a cost to yourself. You are a good man and a good manager, your people are lucky to have you. Every bitter word spoken behind your back by the very ones dumping on your team in the first place is just sour grapes that the good guy won.

 

[helenabear]

I wish I knew what to tell you but it sounds like you did the right thing to me. {{hugs}}

 

[Bob NC]

Sounds like you may have done what you had to do. But, nobody ever likes it when someone goes over their head, justified or not.

 

[LIDisneyFan]

Look, sometime you have to tell things like they are. You tried negotiating with the other managers - that did not work. You had data to back you up - so you're not being unreasonable.

I am learning (little by little) that being liked and being effective can't always co-exist. It deosn't sound at all like to made a big deal over nothing - you saved the company the possible loss of valuable employees, and the cost of replacing them. You brought to senior management the issues which you could not handle yourself - that's exactly what senior management is there for - to knock down roadblocks.

Give yourself a pat on the back and smile - you sound like you did it all right, and it turned out as it should - -the other managers are being held to task.

Good for you.

 

[Serena]

I understand you have to work with these people, but you did the right thing.
If the big boss backed you up, I don't think they will be getting rid of you.