Bit of a weird set up. I work closely with other managers instead of my own. My actual line manager deals with nothing, as my lead area manager deals with everything including my deliverable outputs. My line manager has no idea about my lead area, or what my job entails.
However my line manager refuses to accept I work in a matrix management structure. When I do go to him, he’s useless and doesn’t understand basic HR concepts so I can’t even really go to him for HR, and my other managers about technical matters. I have to rely on the others for support.
The things he does get involved with are irrelevant eg poorly thought out team bonding activities that actually made the divide worse because he made tone deaf comments like “your lead area doesn’t get mentioned by the director which is why it’s not on my radar” to the people I manage. This made them feel like shit. The reason why my lead area isn’t getting torn apart by directors is because it’s performing well…
any advice on how to navigate?