To think I am being completely disrespected at work?

[UncleBunclesHouse]

Posting here for traffic.

I am currently going through my calendar tomorrow moving any meetings I can to have a day of disconnecting as much as possible as I am so fed up and demoralised.

I really enjoy my job and I’m pretty good at the job itself. I’m equivalent of ‘middle management’ in a big corporate. However it appears lately that my role is just pointless. Things that should clearly be within my remit, other people/departments just run off with and do things without even telling me never mind consulting - they are more senior and not a lot I can do about it. They take credit for my work and ideas too. My big boss I get on with well and I have explained some of the issues and some proposed solutions, they are however very laid back, have very big fish to fry and don’t really care tbh. My line manager I don’t get on with particularly well so no real support there. Its like I’m swimming uphill all the time to be heard or recognised. I feel like I’m being walked all over and could just not bother doing most of it and no one would care.

MN-ers who get respected, recognition and this kind of thing doesn’t happen to - please tell me where I am going wrong 😑

Without the buyin from your line manager you are unlikely to be able to get where you want to - I’m guess they are the person who represents you at your appraisal/laddering meetings.

Find out what they want you to do for them and focus on that or move to a different team. It’s very frustrating but if you dont get recognition after having qualified what your manager wants - you’re right, you’ll be swimming uphill

I should add - my boss doesn’t work in the same field as me so doesn’t really understand what I do that well but both from immediate and ‘big’ boss feedback is generally positive. Areas identified for further development have been flagged as leadership and strategic thinking.

But my immediate boss definitely doesn’t like me and there can be some friction

Get a different job. The culture won't change.

Well then you need to work on the relationship with your immediate boss!
Why doesn’t he/ she like you? Can you be more specific?

@UncleBunclesHouse

But my immediate boss definitely doesn’t like me and there can be some friction

Why is that?

Tbh, I'd be getting clarification on your actual remit, and then enforcing it.

In big corps you need people to advocate for you at year ends/nominating for projects/etc, so getting along with managers is as important as job performance as it’s what gets people to support ratings/promotions/raises. I’ve been in that position myself and I have taken a lateral move to a different team where I’ve had better rapport and more opportunities to grow and/or move up. The change of scenery did me good as well, as it was a refresh. Would that be an option?

I can’t say too much about why we don’t get on too well as it could be outing, but to keep vague my previous (excellent) boss left the company and there was a restructuring. My current boss used to also report to my old boss and I didn’t think the new reporting line was therefore very appropriate as we were previously more like peers. They are above me in grade but as it’s a very flat structure that happens sometimes. Then things I had agreed with previous manager in terms of ways of working which new boss didn’t like from the beginning when we were peers...well now they had power over it and have undone it all.

@hangryeyes I think that might be something for me to look into - thank you

@Ohalrightthen I have actually tried that, I spent time developing and up to date role spec for my current job to help clarify my accountabilities - all was fine no issues raised. Then everything continued exactly the same.

If your boss was writing this it would read
‘ I have a former peer reporting to me. She doesn’t agree with the way I want to do things and keeps going back to how it was before’

Rightly or wrongly your boss is your boss. It sounds as if you don’t respect her/ him professionally. And she/ he knows it.

I suspect you either need to get with her programme- or move somewhere else. This doesn’t end well for you- unless the boss is so bad you’ll outlast him/her.

@kilburnfrenchie you’re probably right and that’s an interesting perspective from the other side of the fence I suppose 😊

Depending on your relationship with your boss, could you have a drank conversation with them about this? Address the elephant in the room, so to speak. Your boss may be feeling awkward as well as you’re his former peer and may not being as direct as he would be otherwise.