Unrealistic targets - or am I being resistant?

[NotMyDust]

Small charity, been there about a year, my manager says she finds managing really hard (not just managing me, she's had issues in the past) and cried in our last meeting when I asked for clear targets. History of badly planned projects. That's my side anyway... actually I'm wondering if I'm just being stroppy?

She's now set some targets but they're weird. Unresearched areas of business with financial outcome targets attached, plucking numbers from the air...I stupidly smiled when I saw some of them (tbf she only gave me 10 minutes to read them before our meeting). I said "sorry I can't see how x or x is in my control though any more than whether I can predict what colour flowers those trees will have" ( we have some horse chestnuts out sode the window). she got cross and said I'd asked for SMART targets so here they are.
Was I totally out of line?
Do I suck it up??? she admits the targets are not necessarily going to be achievable. Am I being resistant or is this just a storm in a teacup? what should I do? tia.

She sounds awful. Is there a senior manager or HR you can have a word with so her dreadful behaviour is on their radar?

In the meantime, if the targets are not achievable or if achieving them is out of your control, you can’t sign up to them. If you do you’re just storing up problems for the future.

can you draft your own objectives to suggest as an alternative?

But they’re not smart objectives? Does she know it’s an acronym not a descriptor?

Doesnt the A in SMART stand for achievable? So they’re not SMART if she agrees they may not be achievable.

Saying that though OP it sounds like you were quite rude and probably did come across as recalcitrant. There’s a way to challenge things robustly without smirking or sarcasm.

Well its sounds like she clearly struggles in her job and management isnt for her....however nothing you can do about that, but it does sound like you were quite rude to her in your response.

I don't think it's unusual to suggest your own targets - why not do that? I have, in every job I've done. That may help her get her head around the issue too, if you would like to see her happier in her job.

thank you for your replies. @MiddleParking please could you give me some examples of what I should say? eg dear manager would it be OK If I made some suggestions on my targets blah blah"
i was rude no doubt. I just reacted, I found myself just swimming in her lack of ...grasp? on the targets. we have no business plan, she's working on one, and I did suggest my targets could come from her swot analysis from it which probably came a cross as resistant. she told me i was always talking the project down and she feels negative every time she sees more or less!

I was 100% behind this project at the start then the scales fell from my eyes...no business plan, a strong rival, our target market isn't interested, no marketing strategy or budget etc. so yes not massively positive about it. she basically told me not to tell her the truth I guess. i think she's painting it more positively to the ceo.

but yes im resilient, resourceful etc as I need this job while i look for a new one!

Are you on the spectrum? I'm not surprised she's crying in meetings. You need to be careful.

Does she have targets? I've always worked on a roll down/roll up approach.

A business or organisation will or should have some overall targets or objectives each year. Everything needs to be derived from these and roll down in to the area that can influence them.

An individual should be able to read their own objectives and roll them back upwards, how theirs contributes to their managers targets and up each level till you get to the top again.

If you can't roll down and up in this way, you end up with targets that are counterproductive, not focussed on delivering company wide objectives and sitting with the wrong people/people who can't influence them.

Are you on the spectrum - seriously??!!, just because the OP is frustrated by her managers in ability to project manage and set targets, doesnt mean that shes 'on the spectrum'.
I think given the cirumstances Id feel the same as you OP, but clearly your manager isnt going to step upto the role for whatever reason, do you feel comfortable raising the issues to her boss, if not id do the best job that I could and look for something else

@jessieminto I think the org I work for isnt doing that at all. I guess I need to smooth things over with my boss and try and make more constructive targets but bearing in mind she has the ultimate say, so do a bit of a nodding dog with fingers crossed behind my back.

do this while i look for another job.

I would draft your own targets and put in a catch up to discuss. Be proactive, back up your pro activity (and positivity) in writing and take it from there.

@Ilikewinter thank you so much yes. I've been really trying...just got a bit frustrated with her. I did feel awful when she cried. maybe i need to take her to my heart (!) a bit more and not go off the deep end even if my targets are weird.

@Bibbetybobbity good constructive suggestion. thank you.