Senior Manager comments sent to me by mistake

In your project role, you will be successful by identifying the issues and/or stakeholders who can block success and finding a way forward

In your shoes, I’d be glad to have been given some insight into at least some of those issues. Talk to them and others to find out what / who the real problems are

You don’t always get such a clear insight into the source of whatever the issues are. Thats already a win. Good luck.

The number of posters on here who think HR are some sort of omniscient workforce police force!

Clue: we aren't. We wouldn't give a shit if we were randomly cc'd on a random email we knew nothing about, except maybe have a good old giggle about it.

Oh, joke is on you. I am blind. Bed time here and lights down.

My valid contributions speak for themselves. Let’s see yours!?! Thought not!

Don't listen to that. More likely, they'll see you as a trouble maker as they'll be covering that Senior Manager's arse faster than you can be told there's a restructure and your role is no longer needed.

I'm 59. I've seen how HR handle these things and they always take the higher manager's side - who will gaslight you - probably use the complaint to reinforce how you 'need reigning in.'

If you go to anyone for advice - go to your union rep, who will only be as good as the person.

I'm another one who thinks they meant the situation, not you.
If it was you, it would likely have been batted back to your manager to deal with rather than someone else entirely.

The first sentence is the worst. So she feels listened to...how sexist. That needs to be addressed really shouldn't be allowed, how you do that is your choice as sometimes raising these things causes you more problems.

The reign it in on its own... its telling the person to sort out whatever points you raise so it can be read this way.

If this is one of the stakeholder you have been having problems with I would talk to your manager about it so they can see for themselves evidence of how difficult they are being.

Go to the meeting especially if its with the other person, they didnt write it and see if you can make any progress.

This won't be last time you might get a peek behind the scenes and frankly in all my years I just ignore it and remind myself there is more to life than work this is just something to earn me money to live my life and once I walk out the door its all left behind.

Yes, this. Unless you know which it is, it's hard to know how to handle it.

At least the Senior Manager knows how to spell ‘reining in’.

HR person here… I wouldn’t let it go. I’d personally go to someone quite senior in HR, show them the email and ask for their advice on how to handle it. If they’re good HR, they’ll be furious on your behalf and bank that against the manager for a later date, maybe even raise it to their manager to deal with it (regardless how senior), and they’ll give you advice on how you should conduct yourself.
It’s one thing to think it, it’s another to write it down in an email ffs. Amateur hour!

I'm so glad some sensible people have come along to rein in some of the more ego-driven suggestions. They haven't commited a crime; they've forwarded on an awkward email they shouldn't have.

Probably nothing but she’s sent a summary of issues to another department and it looks like the senior manager of that department either doesn’t agree, feels criticised or there are complexities she (and her manager) are not aware of and he has dashed off an email to one of his team. It’s pretty normal ime and doesn’t mean he has a problem with OP personally.

Every chance you could have the meeting and it will all become clear and at least your going into it knowing there might be resistance.

That’s not nice to read. Very offhand, but then it wasn’t intended to be seen by you.

However I don’t think it’s saying you need reigning in… It could be referring to whatever issues there are.

As your manager had suggested this approach in the first place, see what they think it’s referring to.

The person who sent it to you will probably realise at some point and be mortified.

My Chat Gpc is saying that you should go to HR and tell them that these boys are too big for their britches and that you are taking them down... at sundown.

Oh op how awful how disrespectful I would blind copy hr and your manager and just say something like excuse me I think you have sent this to me in error unless you wanted me to see how this is going to work going forward either way I find it offensive and disrespectful.

More or less what I said. Manager was being very lazy in his language and approach. But his messaging itself ‘could’ be valid.

its hard when you are in the thick of it, so I understand op’s feelings. I would suggest taking a day off.

I’d do this and just carry on as normal
your manager should make the culprit aware

I would type the whole thing into Chat Gpt and follow the advice on that!

Maybe not the best advice but I would have responded saying I’m not sure I was meant to be copied in.

The matter needs reigning in, not you, that’s how I read it as.
The ‘feels listened to’ bit is slightly patronising but ultimately, this person wants to act on the issue and improve it which is the result you want.

I know, right? Pure fantasy land.

OP I would ignore, and just keep it to yourself it puts you in a higher position knowing what’s been said but not reacting.

I saw handover notes once from an accountant I was paying his bookkeeper saying if you could take over this client she’s really difficult and will nit pick.

What he meant was I questioned his work on a few occasions as he made a mistake some critical tax returns and just used software no input so I made him think!!

Not really addressing you. However, op says she is in a new department.

yes, teething issues linked to op and/or stakeholders are also a possibility. And I speak as someone who is very senior!

I would probably let my manager know as it displays a dismissive attitude to your department's role in the organisation overall which they should know about so they can address it.

You need to let them know that you always drink upstream away from the herd...

@Melanieee sorry if I missed it. Is your manager on same email or just you?

if just you, you have to let both writer and manager know a wrong email has been received I.e email not intended for you.