My manager is so bloody ignorant it’s mind blowing.

[agiant]

I manage a team of 10, as you’d expect, there are things i need to run by my manager. Do you think he has the courtesy to answer any emails? Nope, he’s too busy pretending to look busy during the two days a week he bothers popping into the office. He comes in late and leaves early (school runs) and spends some time in the week travelling.

Even if I ask him something face to face he will wiggle his way out of giving a straight answer, he is like I a bloody politician. Unable to pin him down at all. We’ve a big event next week and I cannot get any sense out of him about the agenda at all. He cancels meetings at the last moment, the result of which leaves me looking like an idiot as I can’t answer people who are the then chasing me.

I am sick of covering for him, I usually make excuses without directly dropping him in it but I’m so fed up of this! It’s just so bloody rude! He’s had shocking feedback scores on the annual employee survey so I know it’s not just me that feels this way. He’s bloody untouchable though, he’s obviously pleasing some people somewhere. He’s very clever at doing exactly what he needs to for the people that matter but sod the actual people that report to him that need his support.

Is it ever a good idea to report this above his head? Is it horribly unprofessional to just tell people he’s the bottleneck in the system and that it’s not me not doing my job? I’m absolutely at the end of my tether!

Ah, one of those. Excellent at schmoozing those above him, awful at managing his responsibilities to those below him.

It means he always looks good to those people who can effect his career.

Document document document. Make friends with his manager.

I might have an informal meeting with HR about what you should be doing as it's effecting your productivity.

I would just enjoy taking over his role. You keep him in the loop but if he doesn't respond you do what's necessary. Just tell him I have had no response to xyz so will be implementing abc.

This exactly. I’m sure that the MD has the measure of him but our organisation seems extremely weak when it comes to giving people the push. I’m sure to people above him he is loosely doing what he is meant to do but bloody hell he’s absolutely shite to work for.

Where you can “unless you suggest something else by 2pm today I wil do xxx “

I used to have one like this. Ended up using the strategy of "I propose doing xyz, if you want to instruct me otherwise please let me know by 2pm Friday." I'd then send one reminder, and do exactly what I said I'd do as soon as the deadline passed.
I was completely ready to defend my actions if he ever claimed he hadn't agreed. Email trail kept with evidence of no reply. He never did object. It would have shown he was ignoring his emails, and he wouldn't have wanted to make that obvious to everyone!

It's a different matter if these are things like needing your manager's approval for a purchase otherwise the system won't allow it. But mine was ok at that, because all he has to do was click an Approve button instead of having to read something and think.

Some of the things I need to run by him are things that need to be agreed by him and a director, like the sign off to start a project. He leaves everything to the absolute last minute, causing me loads of stress as I like to be prepared and ready for things.
He only appears in office about twice a week (usually when he’s got wind that his boss or the MD is in)l when he is in he’s the master of procrastination, chatting to people, yet if I need to catch him for something he is rushing off to a ‘meeting’. If I do manage to pin him down the amount of deflection away from actual work topics though is laughable. He’ll try telling me about his latest DIY project, his kids ear infections, anything that actual work. I walk out of there none the wiser than before I went in. He manages to make a total non answer out of an answer! He’s very good at appearing to be flustered and busy, rushing here and there and that’s about it. I hope to god he’s found out soon as he’s driving me to absolute despair.

That's my suggestion too. He can hardly complain if he doesn't like the action taken or the outcome if he hasn't responded.

ahhh we have one like this

Emails disappear into a black hole, I was once chastised for not giving them something to review, responded by sending an email with 22 attachments outlining their responses and changes to said document and my updated document - never received a response

Will sit in meetings and when asked a question will give a deer in headlights look and call out one of our names to respond

Latest is in a Team meeting we made a suggestion and it was poo pooed then made the mistake of emailing Directors with "I have had an idea" and cc one of the Team in.

We have made a collective decision to stop saving them from themselves and simply give them enough rope.

Out of their depth, and utterly useless am hoping the higher ups start to realise the emperor is utterly naked very soon......Actively looking as are the entire team that keep the wheels on the bus!

And Breathe!