so pissed off and worried about meeting tomorrow at 9am

[Sarah510]

so we have a big work meeting tomorrow. I've done loads for it, data, spreadsheets, etc. But my team leader refused to check it (although yesterday she said she wanted to go through it to check the calculations, which I was glad about cos it's easy to make a mistake). So she 'wasn't available' all day today, there was a short meeting on teams around 5pm and she was at it too, so I tried to catch her after it, but she left really quick, and when I emailed her saying I was here, did she want to check stuff with me, she replied to say I was to 'forget about it'. Am so pissed off. Feel like she's going to probably throw me under the bus tomorrow morning if she does check it and find any errors, or else, if anyone else finds errors, I will be shown up in front of everyone. So I'm sat here going through it all one more time. I think it's really mean of her not to even talk to me. Don't know what I've done except work my ass off.

[merrytombombadil]

When you introduce the spreadsheet in the meeting I'd just say something like "sadly time constraints have meant I've been the only member of the team working on this, and although, believe me I've checked and double checked, I'd be really grateful if anyone could point out any data issues so I can put them right - we all know what pesky things spreadsheets can be"

[Mortgageandmoney]

I work in a role with a lot of checking! If we get something wrong it can have big implications for people. We all double check these figures are correct. Some other teams do not do this and then wonder why they have so many mistakes. Simple teamwork really.

[UncleFoster]

If your going into a big meeting, presenting a spreadsheet involving a lot of data ony a fool thinks its not worth checking!

Its easy for humans to make mistakes. A fresh pair of eyes is often needed to spot these.

[SquigglePigs]

It probably depends on your industry but in mine, although self checking and being responsible for "right first time" is important, no piece of work goes anywhere without a QA process of "Originator" then "Reviewer/Checker" and then "Approver" so for a high profile piece of work of course you should have someone confirming.

Either way the way your manager has handled it is awful.

Good luck for tomorrow.

[alig99]

Hi, speaking as a team leader, your team leader is letting you down but put that aside and if all you suspect is correct then I suggest you compose and send and email outlining what you have done checking wise, and say something along the lines that you have done your best although you would have welcomed her running an eye over the final format and calcs as previously agreed but would you do appreciate that she must have a lot on her plate. Ask for a debrief after the presentation. Putting everything in writing to back yourself up is the way to go. Good luck oh and send email tonight.

[monkey4nuthin]

We had this situation today where a spreadsheet being used for important decision making had not been checked by anyone else. I have never worked for an organisation before where that would be permissible so I am really surprised by the procedure in my meeting earlier and also pp's comments here. Of course you should check it yourself but it demonstrates lack of risk management not to have someone else look at what you've done.

[Sarah510]

so now I'm freaking out. I was doing a final check and realise I have applied a rule incorrectly. I'm totally confused. I think I've applied the formulas all wrong. I've gone through and 'corrected' it but now I'm doubting myself. It's so complicated I dont' know if I've thought of everything. I don't know what to do. I cant email her this late. Maybe I could email her in the morning.

[Passmethecrisps]

Stop! Close it down and go for a shower or something.

Fix what you believe to be incorrect and get to bed. Try to get some rest and look at it with fresh eyes in the morning.

Check when you wake up and email her one last time to check whether she wants to chat about this version.

Make sure you have a backup saved tonight so that if there are any new ‘introductions’ to your sheet you can double back.

[MinesAPintOfTea]

Breathe. Have you saved the changes as a new version?

If so, then email saying "moment of doubt, should I have done it using method A or method B?" Or email a friendly colleague.

More importantly, get some sleep. Complicated presentations are worse if you are tired for them than if you can acknowledge mistakes, quickly understand their impact and explain it.

[SamanthaStripyPants]

Do you have a previous version to reconcile against?

[Wagamamas]

Of course she should check, why are people having a pop at ops abilities when she is already stressed about it enough? Part of being in a senior role is supervising and leading, checking final works. Yanbu and good luck!

[Suzie6789]

Ok leave it for tonight and email her first thing.

[Tigerty]

I work in days and it’s compulsory to have your work checked by colleagues. Nothing goes out without system and manual checks.

I really hope your boss isn’t going to tweak it then pretend she has saved the work. I like the opened line of not checked so say if there’s any glaring errors.

[Tigerty]

I work in data. See that’s why work is double checked

[SionnachGlic]

I don't work with data or spreadsheets so not getting the formula piece except that it may/may not be an error. Do you have a version of an approved spreadsheet that you can check formulaes against?

Op, why do you think your Boss is setting you up to fail? If it is based on previous form, then cover your ass in writing. Send her an email tomorrow morning,

Dear X

Further to my email on 2 June (below), as I have not received any requested amendments or corrections can I then assume that X spreadsheet is approved as you will be aware that the meeting is scheduled for XXo'c today'

If you sent follow up mails or tried to ph her...note that also.

If she does point out errors, you can v politely apologise to other attendees & say that you would have ensured they were corrected if it had been pointed out to you in advance of the meeting however you will make corrections & circulate revised version asap.

Maybe Boss just v busy...if you sent her a complex document, it could take time.

Was today the earliest you could have sent it...? I am at senior level in my role & very busy with my own work & I would be unimpressed to receive something for review at 11th hour if I could have received it sooner to avoid the unnecessary creation of urgency & my having to drop other important tasks & rejig my diary.

Are you in this role long OP...do you just need some more experience to gain confidence. Or will you hit this level of stress regularly? If so, it is not good for you. I had it a top level with v v strict deadlines (regulatory compliance role). There were days I worked 7AM - 11PM for weeks to made deadlines altho hrs were 9-5pm. No-one gave a crap....as long as there were no breaches...which there weren't. When I took leave & locum came in, they gave her less work & left a huge, like HUGE worload for me...no way was someone else expected to work at that level..

[SionnachGlic]

I realised this was the culture...very dog eat dog, smile to your face & stab you in the back. It was a just suck it up or leave. I left 5 mths after my holiday, I am much much much happier in a far 'nicer' role/culture now. You need to mind you too OP

[Porridgeoat]

Email it to her first thing.

She said she wanted to go through it but hasn’t had time. That’s ok. She’s probably got millions of things to sort

[ShyTown]

I’m an EA in data and analytics and was hired to do typical assistant stuff (travel, expenses, diary management) but often punch above my pay grade with the work I’m asked to pitch in with, especially at the moment. I always highlight to my boss where I’m confident in something, and where I’m not, and ask her to check where appropriate. OP, if you’ve told your boss that you aren’t sure about how to apply particular formulas/rules, and asked her to check, then she’s probably doing just that and making her own corrections where appropriate and doesn’t necessarily need your input. If she’s going to present your work, possibly with errors in a big meeting and then throw you under a bus then you likely have bigger problems than just this piece of work tbh. Get some sleep, I hope all goes well tomorrow.

[Sarah510]

so she emailed me at 6am but I didn't see it until just now at 7. She's found errors :( She's woken up another colleague to help 'fix' it. I'm so upset and stressed. I tried so hard. It's too much for one person.

[Teawiththat]

She had the chance to look at it before OP, without any of this dramatic waking up another colleague. Why can't she fix it anyway? From the small snippet of what you've said, it seems she may be one for the drama, and who makes it so they have to run it at the 11th hour and 'fix' stuff. Unfortunately they're a nightmare to work with and for, and it doesn't matter how proactive or competent you are. Did you email her asking to check and outlining that it was your first time doing it etc? I would always email or if you phone back up with an email, it helps as then if something does come of it, there's the time and date you sent it, and also 'proof'.

[Teawiththat]

Sorry you're stressed as well OP, it's unlikely to be you, but more likely having an unsupportive manager.

[zscaler]

Good lord, clearly none of you are lawyers. Where I work, nothing goes out until it has been checked (up to partner level if necessary). It’s a completely normal safeguard and not remotely unusual.

It’s very easy to miss errors in work you have been staring at for ages. A fresh pair of eyes is never a bad idea for any important piece of work.

It’s odd that the idea of working collaboratively and taking care over an approach is so alien to so many people.

[zscaler]

OP, this isn’t your fault - you did your part of the work by the deadline. It’s not your problem that her bad time management didn’t give her time to check it, or that she’s been such a drama queen about waking up someone else. This is her problem, not yours.

It sounds like there is a pretty toxic culture at your workplace generally

[KatherineJaneway]

It is an awful feeling when you get something wrong like this. However try and look at the situation as a chance to learn. Apologise for errors but ask for feedback on what was wrong so you won't do that again.

Your boss is pissed off as she was lazy. She should have taken 15 minutes to go over this with you yesterday instead of being all dramatic this morning and 'waking' people up.

Making staff members feel like shit like this case is piss poor management.

[pinotgrigio]

Oh OP. Is there some history here with her that makes you think she's setting you up? Have you made mistakes before? It's very easily done with complex spreadsheets, so no judgement here!

The pattern of 6am start makes me think she might have just been super busy yesterday and as she couldn't get hold of you at 6am roped someone else in.

That said, your intuition is telling you that she's going to throw you under a bus.

Difficult. Ultimately as team leader her role is to support you though and in my line of work we always do a peer review before publishing work/documents internally.