To think that good managers don’t ask colleagues to “look in my diary and book something?”

[ThisArtfulRobin]

I’ve had a few managers over the years who constantly say, “just look in my diary and book something,” instead of proposing a time or taking initiative. It feels like a small thing but in my experience, the best managers take more responsibility for their own time and don’t push the admin onto others, especially when they’re the ones asking for a meeting!

AIBU to think this is just laziness and a lack of basic leadership skills? Or is it actually standard practice now?

It’s giving you some respect - you will have things in your diary so they won’t dictate a time - whilst acknowledging the hierarchy- you are lower so you spend time on the routine of looking for a time slot

This is always my thinking. They might not fancy a 9am meeting with me 😂

A manager's job is literally to delegate menial jobs to others. Do you think the CEO of a large company cleans the toilets herself.

Can’t begin to explain how little of an issue this is, I think this is a very petty thing to be annoyed about.

My manager might ask for a meeting, and ask me to put a time in. It’s not a power play or delegating responsibility, it’s because I may have something to prepare beforehand and she wants me to find a time when I know I’ll have done the task rather than put me under pressure to complete something earlier than planned.

I think if everything else is good, and there’s respect on both sides it really doesn’t matter who books a meeting.

I tell my entire team or anyone that’s asks me to meet to book a time in my calendar that works for them. I’m not a PA, I don’t have a PA , If you want to meet me then you’ll have to look yourself!!

likewise, I always check everyone else’s calendar before booking things to avoid clashes.

Delegation makes sense when it’s part of someone’s role or benefits the team. But asking someone to organise a meeting you personally requested isn’t leadership, it’s just pushing your own admin onto someone else. There’s a difference between delegating strategically and defaulting to it out of habit.

That's a misunderstanding of being a manager

It’s definitely not the biggest issue in the world. I just think small habits can reveal a lot about how someone operates as a manager. It’s rarely about the diary itself, more about attitude and respect for other people’s time.

I hate this - my managers diary is her own business it’s not for me to pick when she is free to read my report or meet with me. Just tell me a date like the olden days.

No it’s being respectful of my time and letting me organise my week.

I prefer it. I can then book a time with them that suits me rather than have a random time thrust upon me that doesn’t suit. Plus I do one wfh day a week so I can make sure it’s not that day.

And he's respecting your time by allowing you to choose the best time for you. The vast majority of respondents think of it this way. Very few see it as negatively as you do.

That would be fair if they actually said “here are a few options, choose what works best for you.” But in my experience, it’s more of a blanket hand-off with no context or initiative. Respect for time goes both ways and good communication usually lands better than assumptions.

My manager had several staff requiring 1:1 if she scheduled them it would take ages much easier for each staff member to book in

I can see how some people might view it that way. I just think there’s a difference between offering flexibility and shifting responsibility. If someone initiates a meeting, the courteous thing is usually to propose a few times first. It’s a small thing but patterns like that often show how they people see their role.

It’s quicker for you to find a slot that suits you than toing and froing, you get to choose when you want, I really don’t understand the problem. Would you rather the manager just set up a meeting in your diary?

Yeah and then you say "oh none of them work for me can we do X or Y time instead" then manager says no I'm off on X day and Y time I'm meeting with Ken. Before you know it you've wasted twenty minutes.

It's obviously not their only job lol

It gives the impression that they don't really care when it is, and won't give any thought to it/prepare for it until the second you walk into their office.

Meh. My Manager often leaves it to me to book meetings, because without fail if he does it he’ll book it for a Tuesday, which is my day off (and has been for the last 8 months).

If they’re the one asking to meet, then yes, ideally, they’d suggest a time or two first. I don’t mind collaboration but it’s not really about efficiency here, it’s about accountability. When you’re the one requesting something, it’s reasonable to own that bit of admin rather than hand it off.

Well no because then I’d need to go back and say they don’t work for me, and I’d end up looking at their calendar and sorting it myself anyway. I know my work pattern and my work plan best, I’d much rather organise my own diary including meetings with my boss.

That kind of back and forth only happens when no one takes ownership upfront. A quick “does Tuesday afternoon work for you?” saves twenty minutes of ping pong. It’s not about hierarchy, just basic efficiency and clarity.

What if Tuesday afternoon doesn't work for you.