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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to resign from my job in a massive rage

74 replies

WoodBurnerBabe · 13/10/2018 08:33

I was asked to do a significant piece of work for a client. Time sensitive, lots of issues around it. I did the first bits and then arranged a meeting with two of the clients to discuss so far as I needed their input to complete.

Got to the meeting yesterday to find out my bosses boss and his boss (so way above my pay grade) had had a meeting with them on Thursday without telling me, and had totally trashed the work I was doing, said it wasn’t worth it, they needed to think again about what they wanted and that it wasn’t feasible to offer what they needed.

So I turn up yesterday with my study showing how it would be done, what the next steps were and some plans of the site to show how it could work operationally (which was what I wanted to check that I had understood their operational needs before I went any further). I looked like a Total. Fucking. Idiot. The client was bemused, and then a bit angry, and although I got some good input for the project going forward, I have no idea what to do now.

AIBU to go in on Monday and tell them all to fuck off and and take their poxy job with them. This was supposed to be my first experience of project management, moving sideways from my normal skill set (there is a big overlap, I’ve just not done specifically PM before), supposed to be lots of support so I get it right and then hopefully do more. The need for my skill set is diminishing so this was supposed to be me “reskilling” to stay relevant to the business as it develops.

I’m alternating between tears and raging. Although I accept I might be being unreasonable.

OP posts:
Original poster
WoodBurnerBabe · 13/10/2018 08:35

The meeting went ahead because I think the client could tell I had had no clue about the previous meeting and was both panicking and furious. Also, they want the work doing and I had actually come up with ideas of how it could happen.

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 13/10/2018 08:35

In my experience the PM always takes the hit when something goes wrong.

I would be furious if I were you as well.

m00rfarm · 13/10/2018 08:36

WHat did your immediate boss say? Did they know about the earlier meeting with the client? Sounds like a lot of confusion. And should you not have presented your initial findings (for want of a better word) within your own organisation before meeting with the client?

Original poster
WoodBurnerBabe · 13/10/2018 08:38

My immediate boss didn’t know about it either. I had gone through my initial work with him and he was pleased with it, and thought it would work well. I haven’t spoken to him yet as it was the end of the working day when I was done yesterday, I sent him an email saying WTF and got back “away this weekend, will discuss Monday”

OP posts:
Lycrasock · 13/10/2018 08:38

That’s not on.

But don’t resign in a rage!!

Notacluewhatthisis · 13/10/2018 08:38

Quitting your job in rage would not be a good idea.

Sitting down with you boss explaining you had done work and was cut out of a meeting you needed to be and could have eased the clients concern is not business and doesn't create a good working environment. Listen and get you point across

ScreamingValenta · 13/10/2018 08:39

I can't believe your bosses went to the client without speaking to you before your meeting - what were they thinking of? The clients will carry away a very poor impression of communications in your company.

I'd be asking for a meeting with your boss first thing on Monday and demanding an explanation.

mumonashoestring · 13/10/2018 08:39

YABU, though I can totally see why!

What you need to do between now and Monday is get yourself to the point of calm, reasonable fury where you can sit down with your boss and ask, completely calmly, exactly what their expectations of you are, and for details of how you can expect to be supported moving forward. Point out that this isn't you getting stroppy about it (even if you are!) but about client relations - your company will look like a communications clusterfuck if there are multiple lines of communication with the client and they're all saying different things.

Maybe don't say clusterfuck...

Notacluewhatthisis · 13/10/2018 08:40

Clearly communication needs to be worked on. Quitting in a rage isn't going to help you.

Original poster
WoodBurnerBabe · 13/10/2018 08:41

I have mentioned the word “clusterfuck” before to my immediate boss, as it happens - there has historically been poor communication between upper management and us who do the work, but a lot of work had been done on this over the last year and I thought it was much improved.

OP posts:
fastfooder · 13/10/2018 08:41

I wouldn’t resign as it’s literally not your fault. They are however making their company look like a bunch of fucking idiots that can’t even communicate. If I was them this would really piss me off and I would think about not using the company anymore.

ChairmanMiaow123 · 13/10/2018 08:41

Don’t be hasty, WoodBurner - i’d be absolutely fuming too, but you’ve got the luxury of having the weekend to let your blood pressure come down a bit.

By all means tell them off, but you can gather your thoughts a bit, before you potentially lose your rag.

Just don’t cut your nose off to spite your face, my friend.

Original poster
WoodBurnerBabe · 13/10/2018 08:42

I did managed to restrain myself from sending anything to the two upper level bosses. Luckily. I did write a couple and then sensibly trashed them. And deleted them from trash.

OP posts:
mumonashoestring · 13/10/2018 08:43

How is your boss at managing upwards?

Number12 · 13/10/2018 08:44

Ok first off calm down, I totally get why you are raging, I would be too. You need to cool off and have a one to one with your boss. Find out how the meeting came about, why you were not invited, get to the bottom of what you they expected from you. You need to learn from this going forward.

Things can change quickly on projects, everything is always now now now with clients. It may well be that you top bosses were saving the client from going else where. Don't jump yet, ask for feedback.

SandyY2K · 13/10/2018 08:45

I sent him an email saying WTF

Really?

That would be a disciplinary offence where I work.

I can see your annoyance though.
Resign if you wish. Your call.

Original poster
WoodBurnerBabe · 13/10/2018 08:46

I didn’t literally say what the fuck to my boss. I sent him an email saying that I was concerned that I hadn’t been invited to the meeting, had he known about it, and could we have a chat.

OP posts:
YeOldeTrout · 13/10/2018 08:46

Are you raging b/c you were made to look like a fool in front of the client? Or b/c they trashed your work itself?

I understand both being upsetting & bad way to treat a colleague, but they offer different sets of reasons about whether to leave the company, whether you think this is a place worth working in future.

littlebillie · 13/10/2018 08:47

Do not resign, though I think you need to consider raising a grievance regarding protocol respect etc. I don't think you should let it go but if you raise an impact statement regarding you and the client they will look like fools

Seniorschoolmum · 13/10/2018 08:50

Op, can you use this to your advantage?

On Monday can you compose an email saying you met with the customer and while you now know that the project is on hold, you were able to stabalise the customer relationship, and that of the ideas you put forward, the customer was interested in x, y and z, which might be included in the plan going forward.
It might raise your profile, and show you are willing to try to sort out a fairly pissed off customer.
If I was a big boss, I’d want those sorts of suggestions.

LoniceraJaponica · 13/10/2018 08:53

I think you also need to highlight to the bosses that the lack of communication has presented the company to the client in a poor light. They have made the company look unprofessional.

What was the client angry about exactly?

museumum · 13/10/2018 08:56

Wow. Your top bosses were pretty shitty to the client!
I don’t think you looked the fool but after their response I’d think your company looks very unprofessional and like very poor communicators. Not sure I’d trust the company after that.
Obviously don’t resign right away but I wouldn’t blame you for looking elsewhere.

Original poster
WoodBurnerBabe · 13/10/2018 08:56

They were angry because they had been told that XX wasn’t going to be possible and had spoken among themselves to think about other options. Then I come in saying “so this is how we are going to achieve XX” and they were “seriously?!? What is going on?” They weren’t angry at me, once they realised I had had no knowledge of the previous meeting.

OP posts:
Original poster
WoodBurnerBabe · 13/10/2018 08:58

Right. Rage control measures in place. Running shoes are on and I’m going to bash out some wet miles round the beautiful Cotswolds. Hopefully after that I can go through everything and make a different plan. Thank you MN for showing me other viewpoints.

OP posts:
Mrsmadevans · 13/10/2018 09:00

'The need for my skill set is diminishing so this was supposed to be me “reskilling” to stay relevant to the business as it develops'

If what you essentially do is now becoming obsolete...or changing...... then what or where are you going ? If you are having to change your skillset to be able to work then surely this is endemic in your line of work and you won't be able to find another job ?

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