Priority Differences (or why my boss makes me crazy when he 'backs me up.')
So I came to the office late today because podiatrist. When I'm out, my boss is supposed to back me up and take care of urgent costing issues. I put up an out of office notice for my internal 'customers.' And the only time they send him something is when they actually need things costed right then.
Now I have my work email set up on my phone. Oh, I know, I'm nuts. But over the 2 years or so I've had to deal with mom issues it meant I could reply to emails even if I didn't have the work laptop with me to take care of things. It just made sense. In this case it means I can monitor things despite out of office notice to check for crisis issues. I didn't take the laptop home with me last night. My boss knew that. I think. So I did see that there were 2 costing requests. One of which was sent on to my boss because - out of office notice.
What did I do when I got to the office? Yup - checked the urgent issues. And, not to my surprise, the urgent issue had not been costed. I went to his office to officially check to see if he had taken care of it. Oh, yes, I knew it hadn't been costed but I'm a tad ornery and wanted to rattle his cage a wee bit. Nope, he wasn't doing anything with it. I told him I'd take care of it - heck I'm in and you haven't so just don't bother now. So I costed the 5 parts that were urgent. The one other request AND - the notice that two 'quick' parts were ready. Now the quick parts I had been expecting. That came through yesterday. And we have 24 hours to get these set up, costed, produced and shipped. I was not the hold up (that was in setting it up). However my boss's lax attitude about costing when I'm not in the office or late had me a bit anxious for the 2 'quick' items. (for the record the items forwarded to him sat for about 2 hours before I came and costed them)
I suppose I'm going to have to have a 'when you _____, I feel _______, because ________' conversation with him about urgent items and costing. Namely, if they email an item to you when I am gone this means that you need to take care of it. It means that it is urgent and they want it costed now not late today or tomorrow. And I'll need to explain the 'quick' items to him (again) so he knows he really does need to drop everything on those and take care of them.
I do confess, I'm wound a bit tight. Always have been. As I've said before (and keep saying) - my outlook on timeliness is on time is late. (early is on time, early enough to read a book or check Facebook on my phone is totally in my plans and late is more or less unheard of except in extreme circumstances). Trying to wrap my brain around the fact that my boss does not make it to the office by 8 am like everyone else unless he has car pool for son 2 is a struggle. (Yes, this means he wanders in late all summer). Oh sure, he makes up his time by staying late.
And it would be okay if it were just that. But it is not. Today is an example. Him saying he'll get back to me on something or he'll take care of something and days (weeks) passing before he does makes me crazy (okay crazier). Sometimes I feel I have to reel in him from the tall weeds if you know what I'm saying. Our resident Tax Curmudgeon is like that. Both are prone to go off on tangents mentally.
I will say that mostly I like my boss. I just needed an outlet today for the expected let down.
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