Feel daily meeting with manager is excessive

[Steakpeppersauceandchips]

Initially the team I am in had weekly meetings with manager which were felt to be too regular even then. She stopped them for about 2 weeks and then sent out invites for daily ones for a time before I started work so obviously I wouldn’t be attending. I start at 8.30 and there is an email every morning by time I get in asking what I completed day before and what I am doing today. Yesterday she has now decided she wants to meet me and another colleague that starts at the same time as me to meet daily at 9. It has so annoyed me. I am also having a one to one next week! Like what is there to say. I’ve been with the company for 7 years almost l, she has been for 1. Previous manager checked and gave direction/ instruction when required but knew we would shout also if needed. Going to say in my one to one this is far too much.

Actually feel like saying this morning at my first daily meeting

I would ask what is she hoping to achieve with the daily meeting - say happy to trial but feels excessive. Then if she goes ahead after the third meeting maybe outline why it is disruptive/ unproductive.

I would definitely ask the rationale for daily meetings when you have your meeting this morning? Is there something going on you aren’t aware of? I would then say the negative impact it’s having and question whether it’s really necessary.

I would genuinely and without confrontation ask why. Is the team under scrutiny for poor results? Is this now the company standard way of doing things? What does the manager want or need to get out of the daily call?

It seems a strange thing to newly introduce, there must be a reason beyond just a controlling personality.

Are they looking to restructure? Otherwise it’s excessive for everyone involved.

Depends really. I work in manufacturing and a morning "stand up" is seen as an efficient start to the day. Can eork really well in reactive workplaces where key messages and tasks are passed on along with any goals or issues. They should be quick, snappy and help improve communication across attendees

Or she could be micromanaging. I sense you either don't like her or assume the latter.

I'm in IT where daily 'stand-ups' (not much standing up when everyone is on Teams but we still do them). It's a good way for a team to keep up to date on progress and jump in and help someone else if they're struggling. We do 15 mins max and format is strictly what I did yesterday, what I plan to do today, any help I need. Is this what she's suggesting?

I would wager that your manager had been reading about agile software development as this sounds like a daily stand up meeting that software developers have. No need for it anywhere else.

Either that or there is some micro managing going on.

That sounds really disruptive having to have a daily meeting half an hour after you have arrived. I agree with asking calmly for the rationale behind it.

Might be different if you WFH as a daily check in might be needed (I don’t so have no experience) but by the sounds of it you work onsite where you can catch a word easily during the day if necessary.

I’d ask for the rationale for tbe daily meetings rather than say ‘it is too much’ before understanding what the manager is trying to achieve. In most of my roles, it wouldn’t have made sense, but in one or two it really did (not software development but similar to a daily stand up/huddle) The meetings were short, efficient and actually very effective. So if along those lines, I’d recommend you keep an open mind.
It could also be the manager’s way of quickly getting to know the team and how they work.
Or you might be right, it could be a waste of everyone’s time.

I’d keep an open mind, watch and wait before declaring it unnecessary.

Agree that in some work cultures a daily stand up is totally normal and not micromanaging as you may feel.
Is it that you are there so long and feel undermined or scrutiny, if so these are very normal meetings and not designed to make you feel like that.

It sounds a bit like you don’t like her on top of the meetings issue.

It depends really, how long are the meetings? If it’s just a five minute catch up, I don’t think that’s a bad thing tbh.

How this is received depends entirely on how you view your manager. I’m smt and we have one at the end of every day with our boss who is at director level. Started during Covid as a check in and has just continued. Ours is an hour, it’s nothing to do with him not thinking we are doing our jobs.

you need to manage your manager, if checking in gives her comfort then that’s her style, first meeting you clarify purpose so you know what detail to bring. You are assuming it’s about you , it’s probably about her and how she gets comfort all is well.

Did have 15 min meeting this morning and brought up at the end that I felt daily was excessive. After a bit of resistance and questioning 2 meetings a week were agreed which is ok. As others have said I think this was the final straw that triggered me as a few things have happened that I’ve glossed over and I’m always the reasonable one of the team but I dont know something has changed inside for me, I couldn’t let it go. I don’t mind manager really and out of the team get on with her the best and accept she has to do her job too. At my one to one will raise my other gripes in a less confrontational manner. I will add that I already complete a daily timesheet and a 2 week look ahead.

If the manager was behaving in the way a good manager should, she would have explained why she was organising the daily meetings, to save you all having to wonder. An exemplary manager would ask how you like to be managed. Some people may like an informal 15minutes at the beginning of each day. Others may find it too much.

To be fair she did ask at start what we didn’t want from a manager and micro managing was the top answer which was agreed with. I feel it has gradually morphed into just that though. Our previous manager is now her manager and their styles differ greatly. I do realise it’s not an easy position for her to be in and the technical skills she has brought to the team have really helped me. People skills wouldn’t be her strong point. I am happy though that I did speak up and know that things will be and are generally fine

She's probably coming at it with a daily stand up approach, which can work well if you are delivery focused. For example, I'm on a project and we work in 3 week sprints, and it's for info sharing, blockers etc. which we refer on to our manager to handle if we're having any particular problems. I also have a 1-1 with manager weekly, which is to discuss wider ideas/thoughts/problems.
But if you're tacking more business as usual work, then it's micromanaging and just taking up time.

This approach also only works if it's a whole team thing. Individually is way too much, no matter the context.

Is she an new inexperienced Manager.
what does she cover daily ?
I do a monthly meeting and daily teams check in (chat).
I do as hoc meetings as well but seems ott really what she is doing.

She's a poor manager who should have a decent operating system so that she knows what everyone is doing, what stage each project is at, so she doesn't need to ask.