Hack I figured out for dealing with a boss who rewrites everything

My manager at the warehouse used to make me redo my inventory reports three times every Friday. She would change the format, then change it back, then ask why I didn't do it the first way. After six months of this I started saving every version as a separate file with the date and time stamped on it. Last month she tried to blame me for a missing pallet count. I pulled up the version from 4pm and showed her where she had me delete those numbers. She shut up pretty quick. The trick is to not be obvious about it. Just keep a folder labeled "drafts" and let the timestamps do the talking. Has anyone else dealt with a boss who can't make up their mind about basic procedures?

2 comments

2 Comments

christopher_sullivan15d ago

That part about saving every version as a separate file is gold. The time stamp trick really does work because people can't argue with a computer clock. I used to work at a print shop where the owner would change his mind about a flyer design like five times in one afternoon. He'd want the logo bigger, then smaller, then we needed a different font, then back to the first font. One time he got mad that I printed 500 copies of the wrong version. I showed him the email chain where HE said "go with the blue one" and then three hours later he sent another email saying "no wait, go back to the red one." The thing is, these bosses don't even realize they're doing it half the time. They just get overwhelmed and start second guessing everything. So your drafts folder method is perfect because it covers your back without starting a fight.

sagep1915d ago

Oh man, this hits way too close to home. I once had a boss who asked me to reorganize the supply closet three times in one week, and by Friday I couldn't even find the tape dispenser anymore because we moved it so much. I started keeping a little notebook in my pocket where I'd jot down every single instruction she gave me about where stuff should go. One day she claimed I never told her about the new label system I set up, so I just flipped open my notebook and read her exact words back to her. She got real quiet real fast. I guess my brain just doesn't hold onto all that back and forth very well, so writing it down saved my bacon more than once.