Crap manager? Or do I need to be more assertive

[Kuju]

I’ve had my current manager for the past year. She’s a nice person, but I can’t help but feel she’s a crap manager.

Our weekly catch ups consist of her starting off with a personal tale of her week/weekend, then reeling off 4/5 things she has on her mind related to shared work - barely pausing for breath. The time is then almost up. No -‘how are you, how is your week, do you need help with anything’.

She has not arranged to meet in person once with me. Colleagues who have a manager in the same location as her (70 mins away) usually see their manager 3/4 times a year as they’ll visit our site.

I just feel a bit meh. Surely asking your report how they are doing is par for the course if you are a manager?!

No, she sounds really shit. I suggest you email her before your next meeting and set out an agenda for your next meeting with what you want to discuss.

In the meeting, if she goes off piste, direct her back to the focus of the meeting. Have you tried doing this?

Good luck.

Unfortunately learning how to deal with a crap manager is just a part of working life. I’ve had just as many shit managers as I’ve had good ones. At your next catch up make sure you say upfront there are a couple of things you need to discuss and say what they are and keep an eye on the time.