Reason I'm quitting?

[BlipBipel]

NC.

TL:DR - I want to step down from my volunteer role at work because of a manager but don't want to tell him that. What reason do I give?

Long version
I volunteered for an extra role at work along side my actual job. Two other people do it too. It involves working with customers to order suitable equipment. I write a full report for each consultation. I've only ever had positive feedback from customers and internally. Budget isn't a concern but obviously I apply common sense.

The old lead left and the new one is driving me mad. He now insists on all orders going through him despite us having the authority to order ourselves. He never reads my reports but emails me for every order telling me off and making me justify it. He dislikes certain equipment so it is really difficult to get his OK on it. He has undermined me by telling customers different things to me without reading my report or even talking to me.

The last straw was on Monday. He called me into his office to have a go at me about an order HE misunderstood and then told me he'd ordered something completely different anyway. If he'd just spoken to me, it would have avoided all of this and he would have known the item he actually ordered is not suitable. Or he could have just stayed out of it. The customer will think I ordered it.

I don't know if he is like this with the other two volunteers and can't ask them. One is a gossip/trouble maker and the other works completely different shifts to me.

It's a volunteer role which doesn't affect my real job. I really enjoy it but I don't need the grief/distrust from him so have requested a meeting with him tomorrow to tell him I'm am stepping down. But what reason do I give him? I know I should be honest and tell him, it's his fault but that won't be helpful! I can't cite other work pressures because he knows my actual job doesn't have any. My job is very, very specific and limited so I can't give some rubbish about wanting to focus/develop it either.

I'll have to continue to work indirectly with him in my real job so I need to tread carefully.

You could go for criticising him but making it look like you're being self-deprecating e.g:

'I struggle to do my best work when I'm worried someone else is going to overrule my decisions. I put a lot of effort into researching and learning about the products and find it saps my motivation when my recommendations are ignored, especially when that has a negative impact on the clients.'

He will only take it as a criticism if he recognises that that's how he's treating you, in which case he won't really be able to argue and you aren't asking him to change, jus pointing out that your working styles aren't compatible because he's a twat.

If he will push for reasons just say he is becoming wholly unreasonable on his demands placed on an unpaid worker and that you don't need that kind of pressure when providing your time free of charge.

If he persists tell him he's a twat

I would say something along the lines of "the role has changed considerably since I took it on, and I no longer feel able to continue."

This is all you need to say

I would say something along the lines of "the role has changed considerably since I took it on, and I no longer feel able to continue."

I agree this is a great start. It's also worth thinking through what to say if he pushes for details.

I'm not a fan of inventing some personal crisis or exciting thing you want to give more time to outside of work, aka lying. Better to find a way of tactfully telling the truth.

Can you just say that you don't feel you can give it your all/the necessary attention to detail (as he's fucked up your recommendations)? or pos that the additional workload is affecting your MH?

Are you for real, @flouncyfanny?
Are you actually suggesting that the OP fakes some MH issues AT HER WORKPLACE? Can you not see how detrimental that would be to her career & credibility?

He would be really unreasonable to probe that. If he does ask your mum, can you fake needing a tissue and a sniff "I don't want to talk about it, Mum"?
And that having told this crock of shite to a colleague, she then perpetuates the lie to her own mother?!!

I don't mean to belittle MH issues,
But you just did, by suggesting the OP summons a MH issue out of thin air rather than act like the adult professional she is.

I'd rather go honest, or not give a reason. Think of it as an opportunity to flex your communication skills with people like him.

Or if you just can't face it.. tell him you didn't imagine it being a long term volunteer commitment and it's time to step down.
Or give the "opportunity" to someone else blah blah...

Either give no reason or say it doesn't seem to be working well at the moment.

I would go with saying the job has changed a lot and it's no longer working for you. As it's voluntary, you're making the decision to step down. If he pushes say it would be better if he can find someone who works well with his style of management.