To give my manager negative feedback?

[SandiBeech]

My department isn't well managed. This isn't just my opinion. Other people say it amongst themselves but not to the most senior management.

I'm capable and qualified to manage it. I've run similar departments in other companies. However my role isn't to manage it, and I'm not particularly bothered about that but I do have a lot of skills that aren't being put to good use. I'm getting tired of working in an environment that could be vastly improved and I'm considering leaving. I know I need to try to improve things instead of just giving up.

Of course, there are politics involved so I have to tread carefully. The person who is in charge is in the role through family connections. So they are never leaving. That's part of why I know I can never be in that role myself.

In theory they welcome input, but I've had my fingers burnt in the past in another company by speaking to the senior team on behalf of my department. The feedback was not well received. The improvements I suggested were actually made, but my card was marked even though I attempted to, and I think did, handle it diplomatically.

I know I need to position it in a way that turns my negative feedback into a positive. Any tips on how to approach this? I know I need to offer solutions but I don't want to go wading in with a plan that they may consider to be beyond my remit.

Just leave and find somewhere that doesn't shoot the messenger

Leaving without doing anything feels like giving up. And it's not that easy to find a new job at the right level, and particularly one that will work for me.

Given the situation, I'd say to manager that you've got some suggestions to increase efficiency and ask for help/input to see if they are viable. They'll present it as their idea if they even recognise it as being a good plan - but you know that.
It'll be the price you pay for the benefit of working efficiently. Bit crap but best out one you'll get

This. The manager's response to this will tell you whether it's worth staying

Honestly even the tone of your mail is a bit irritating. You clearly think that you could do their job far better then they are .
I'm not sure there is any good way to give that kind of feedback .

Give them a shit sandwich. Tell them then negative with a positive on either side. 'You're a really fun person' 'You're shite at your job' 'I really like your enthusiasm'. Dress it up a bit and good luck.

What kind of problems are they? IMO that will influence how you can approach it.

Process inefficiencies? If your idea is quicker/cheaper, then draw that to their attention. Propose to run a pilot to see if it's viable.

Don't focus on what isn't working or why you don't like what X is doing, you need to frame your ideas as something that will have benefits.

If its overall management style that you don't like then you're probably not going to solve for that without being in the leadership team or a position of influence. If these things that you can do are outside your role, then either let it go or work with your line manager to understand how you can broaden your responsibilities

They clearly don’t want your input. I’d just find another job.

Why do you think you have to fix it?
It isn’t your job. They don’t want you to have that job or they’d have given it to you. They’re not going to give you to job if you start just doing stuff. That person isn’t leaving.

it just sounds like you think you’re better than them and should be the one to handle it all. Maybe that’s true, but you care more than they do. They don’t want you managing the team. Find another job with promotion options coz this one doesn’t have any.

That's kind of my point. I can do it better as it's what I've done my whole career and the work my department does isn't even their area of expertise. They admit this but aren't proactive in asking for input or for feedback. So I could be a great support but there is no easy way to point out they're not doing a good job.