Feedback on manager

[User134221]

My company used to promote employees any day of the week/month/year purely just based on merit when an individual was ready. It then changed to promotions would only happen quarterly. For the last year promotions have been essentially on freeze but will restart in April and will now happen twice per year.

If I bring up my own promotion with my manager she becomes evasive and a little hostile like she doesn't want to discuss it. She says wishy washy comments that I don't find helpful. What I would like is for her to tell me whether she thinks I'm ready for promotion and is she is putting me forward for senior leadership to consider, or tell me she doesn't think I'm ready and tell me what objectives I need to hit/work on. But she's not doing either of these things. As such I don't really feel like my development is being supported and communication is not transparent. In addition, my manager requested feedback on me from my team months ago but hasn't scheduled an appraisal to go through it or shown/discussed it with me, just said it was all really nice. There should have been suggested areas of development.

Her manager is now requesting feedback on my manager from anyone who works with her plus her line reports. I suspect this is gearing up to put my manager forward for promotion in April.

I am wondering whether to give feedback on the above as I feel like I am not being managed in the way I would like to be and it seems unfair she should go for promotion when she is so unwilling to discuss it with her line reports (a colleague is having the same experience with her), but then again I don't want to burn my bridges with her!

You can only be honest.
So, yes put forward those points that you've outlined - and try to balance it with some positive comments about her management style

Give her one last chance by asking her outright. If she still isn't clear to you, then tell the boss what you really think - I say this because if she is up for promotion and if this is the process then she should be aware you'll be asked.

I will say if she is avoiding the conversation it's likely none of you are being promoted.

I'd go to town on her - explicitly say that as a manager she is unsupportive, ineffective and is no role model material let alone fit for promotion.

If she is stifling your development, you ought to decimate hers too.

She sounds like an absolute asshole TBH.

She sounds like mine.
Personally she doesn't like me and is in a clique with the other supervisor.
She doesn't communicate,hasn't done my review and didn't do last November one.
She does bear minimum herself.
When she was suddenly off sick myself and team didn't have the relevant information for the week ahead.
I think yours is avoiding the conversation and isn't proactive or supportive.
Mine is poor with me.So this week I have an interview with a recruiter who saw my CV online.
Potentially more money and better conditions.
Onwards and upwards.

I don’t really like the attitude of it not being fair that she gets to be put forward for promotion because you haven’t, and it might not be anything to do with promotion anyway. But you have been asked for feedback and I think it would be reasonable for you to mention this, but I would try to ensure that your comments are well rounded and are not solely about this.

@Picklestop I know what you mean, apologies I more meant it feels unfair to me if she is getting put forward for promotion but I can't even get a conversation about promotions with her. Her whole demeanour changes if I bring it up and it's so awkward.

It's likely that she's not good at having difficult conversations. She might just think she never wants to promote you. In which case, leave. I'd force another conversation and specifically ask for a time frame and objectives to hit. It's also a good time to raise your feedback about her.

I'd be honest but couch it carefully so as not to sound bitter:

So give sone positives and some areas to improve on - such as that there is a tendency to avoid difficult conversations at times. Isn't always timely in giving staff feedback and performance and goals etc etc.

i would give balanced and fair feedback and maybe add what the impact is on me if you believe it is stopping you progressing.

My manager never acknowledged my contribution officially or pushed for my payrise so never cared for all that
I had to ask for one

I overheard my manager properly slagging me off today.
They thought my lift had arrived and I had left.
I walked in to the office to say goodbye and heard the raised voices.
I had my suspicion that she didn't like me but this was full on vitriolic.
I've never overheard such a thing in decades in the workplace.
Needless to say I'm leaving.

oh god what did they say? Was it to team mates or peers or management? etc? Well, you know the true colours now. Do they know you heard?

It was to other area manager.
She must know I overheard.
I was quiet the next day which is v unusual.
I'm not lazy or unmotivated as I do plenty and I'm a bit of a workaholic.
I don't need references as I have 3 from my last 3 workplaces.
I have interviews arranged.I just didn't realise my team all hate me so much.

Do they help you progress there salary/promotion wise?

No

Yeah then no reason to stay then.........