To ask my boss please stop discussing my work in front of others?

[UserLibra78]

As above.

I have been assigned quite a few projects that have been stagnant since the beginning of the year, through no fault of our own (waiting for customer which involved national regulatory approval).

My boss is quite eager to progress on these projects so that we can get paid (pay by every milestone achieved). So in every meeting he has been pulling up these projects and ask me for any status update, which is not unreasonable but the fact that he knew there’s no update because it hasn’t been approve and sort of implied that I wasn’t trying my best has peeved me off greatly.

AIBU? Am I being too sensitive?

Just reply that is still waiting approval and you'll let everyone know when you have it

What sort of meeting?

Is it a meeting where you discuss all work in the company? If so YABU

Email him and cc in a few others or meeting admin and give him (the same) update prior to the meeting. Yes this would annoy me too in particular circumstances.

We go through every single project at team meetings, routinely, so in that context it would not be unreasonable. But I'd keep emphasising that it's out of your hands and nothing you can do gui get things moving.

This isn’t unreasonable
Your boss may know but other key stakeholders may not
The meeting is a chance to give an update
There could also be an update your boss isn’t aware of

Your boss is doing the right thing ticking off the progress update in a meeting so nothing is missed or not communicated

UNLESS the meeting is about nothing to do with peoples work loads and projects?

Your title is misleading: he is raising this in meetings, not randomly on the office floor.

Depends.

Are they bringing up all the projects? Or lots of projects/pieces of work? If so yabu

Or is this meeting about something totally different, and he randomly brings it up. If so yanbu.

As above, just repeat where you are 'still awaiting xyz' and list anything you have done/offered to do to try and push it forward or at least chased up

'Still awaiting customer approval, I did catch up with X who says 'yz' so we just have to wait it out'

If I was your boss I’d think this request was odd. He’s hardly personally criticising you publicly if it’s really out of your hands. Why do you feel sensitive about it? If you think it makes you look lazy to colleagues make sure to point out that “whilst awaiting approval I’ve been taking forward X, Y and Z”.

Doesn’t sound like your boss is unreasonable, boss is probably under pressure to get the projects signed off/moved onto next stage for payment etc. Tell boss when you last chased it up, and keep in the loop for updates, as I am sure you are doing in any case. Surely your colleagues are facing similar issues?

Obviously I don't know the nature of your business, but rather than just state each time that project X is waiting on action from a third party, why not update with what you've been doing to get things moving?

Have you, for example, engaged with the MP that represents the constituency that your business runs from - are jobs at stake?

We have meetings like this all the time. Status updates are discussed even at times the senior people involved know there is no status update - it’s to comply with our internal procedures towards communication and ensure that it’s recorded in the meeting minutes and kept as a routine part of the agenda for any project meeting. Status update does not mean ‘shout from the rooftops it’s going ahead!’ - even to say there has been no further progress IS a status update. You’re overthinking this one and I really don’t think your boss is trying to undermine you in any way.

In your boss's position, I'd be expecting a bit more than 'still waiting'. I'd want to know if you know what the hold up is, has there been any indication of an approval date, is this anything to do with the wider external environment and if so how long do you expect it to take, is there any possibility of doing any work 'at risk' which will mean we have a head start once we get going. You sound a bit passive tbh and that's not how projects get delivered.

Oh, and it's a project status meeting not the local chippie, of course your projects will get discussed

Thank you I will take on the board the suggestion and highlighting things that I can do is done. We are literally just waiting for customer’s approval.

Is there absolutely nothing you can do while you wait for sign off?

@HidingFromDD

In your boss's position, I'd be expecting a bit more than 'still waiting'. I'd want to know if you know what the hold up is, has there been any indication of an approval date, is this anything to do with the wider external environment and if so how long do you expect it to take, is there any possibility of doing any work 'at risk' which will mean we have a head start once we get going. You sound a bit passive tbh and that's not how projects get delivered.

Oh, and it's a project status meeting not the local chippie, of course your projects will get discussed

This is very helpful I have never thought about it that way. I will dissect everything u mentioned and link it with all my projects.

You are right the last thing I want people to think is I am passive (of which I am definitely not! The minute the boss assigned me those projects, I started and received my own company approval within 2 weeks!)

@HidingFromDD do you think I should send my boss an email explaining the delay in more detail and mentioning that I am worried I am being a bit passive here?

@TheUndoingProject

If I was your boss I’d think this request was odd. He’s hardly personally criticising you publicly if it’s really out of your hands. Why do you feel sensitive about it? If you think it makes you look lazy to colleagues make sure to point out that “whilst awaiting approval I’ve been taking forward X, Y and Z”.

You are right and all the PP who suggested that I am taking this personal. Thank you I will now approach this issue from another angle, i.e highlighting what’s been done from our side. Thanks

No you are being weird. It is perfectly normal to go round the table in meetings and ask what everyone is working in and for updates. It keeps everyone informed of not just their own narrow areas.

It’s normal to ask for project updates at meetings. I’d go in prepared with a status update for each project. If you’re waiting for things like approval I’d drop a reminder to the client a few days before the meeting so you could say, ‘ Project 2: all paperwork is done and submitted. Still waiting on approval. Chased client again on Tuesday and am still awaiting confirmation. Will chase again on Friday. Everything is ready to go once client gives the go ahead’. If there is a problem, bring it up at the meeting and ask for help to unblock it - “Really struggling to get engagement from client X - would really value your insights on how to move things along”. This way it looks like you’re being proactive and thinking about the projects.

@Wiredforsound

It’s normal to ask for project updates at meetings. I’d go in prepared with a status update for each project. If you’re waiting for things like approval I’d drop a reminder to the client a few days before the meeting so you could say, ‘ Project 2: all paperwork is done and submitted. Still waiting on approval. Chased client again on Tuesday and am still awaiting confirmation. Will chase again on Friday. Everything is ready to go once client gives the go ahead’. If there is a problem, bring it up at the meeting and ask for help to unblock it - “Really struggling to get engagement from client X - would really value your insights on how to move things along”. This way it looks like you’re being proactive and thinking about the projects.

I wish I seek advice here before the meeting.

Do you think I might send my manager an update and talk about the passive manner now?

In context of a progress meeting absolutely would expect updates. If the programme is truly at a stand still for now have you said you have capacity to help with other work? Or identified work that can be conducted in the meantime? are you keeping in touch with the customer to keep on top of projected slip that you can report back? Are you considering the implications of this slippage even though its not the fault of the company? If you don't like it chances are you know that you haven't been doing much and are worried about being pulled up on it.

[quote UserLibra78]@HidingFromDD do you think I should send my boss an email explaining the delay in more detail and mentioning that I am worried I am being a bit passive here?[/quote]
No don't do that! Just impress them at the next meeting.

[quote UserLibra78]@HidingFromDD do you think I should send my boss an email explaining the delay in more detail and mentioning that I am worried I am being a bit passive here?[/quote]
Don’t whatever you do, mention you are worried you are being passive. He’s your boss not your therapist.

If you haven’t been giving thorough updates on what you’ve done, send a clear and short as possible factual email outlining what’s been done and what the next steps are. You could express that it’s obviously frustrating, so if he has any thoughts on any other strategies to get it moving, you’d welcome them.

Then give proper updates in meetings going forward.

@Papayamya

In context of a progress meeting absolutely would expect updates. If the programme is truly at a stand still for now have you said you have capacity to help with other work? Or identified work that can be conducted in the meantime? are you keeping in touch with the customer to keep on top of projected slip that you can report back? Are you considering the implications of this slippage even though its not the fault of the company? If you don't like it chances are you know that you haven't been doing much and are worried about being pulled up on it.

I can categorically say that I have done my bits. However there is no way to move forward without this national regulatory approval in place. EVERYTHING hinges on this approval. The issue here is that the minute we start on this project, the customer notify us they are not happy with the wording on the approval and have to resend the application to change it. That’s where the delay is.

@Luredbyapomegranate haha you are right about her not being y therapist!

I will mentioned that I am frustrated at the progress all this is taking, considering “we” have done our part, and ask him to suggest anything that can speed thing along.