Middle management killed my soul. I refused to extract every last drop of productivity from my reports. I did everything I could possibly do for them, but I couldn’t make things right for them. (I advocated for raises, promotions, increased staffing, and more frequent breaks.)
Under my management, my team was more productive than they were with other leadership. (Both the numbers and the customers agreed.) My managers said it was great, but then would complain when they saw them not working 100% of the time. (This was “wasteful.”)
The other middle managers were willing to do what I wouldn’t. Upper management would pass me over for promotions, for the middle managers that were willing to be lackeys that would grind up our staff for the good of profit. My mistake was that I wanted to provide great service and treat my staff like the competent professionals they were. The real vision was to provide the bare minimum, find creative ways to fleece the customers, and do it all by whatever means necessary.
I’ve been there. I am much happier not in management. I hope you’re doing well.
Nice job dude. How did your wife take it after they fired you for being human?
I wasn’t fired. I just stopped being a manager. The worst part is all the other managers.
Yup, my VP laid my coworker off after she announced she was pregnant.
A week later I announced my wife was pregnant and they laid me off.
And as a manager I’d have to sit in a meeting with those assholes and not punch them in the face.
When my VP laid me off, she was on her phone texting someone. She’s going to be a CEO one day.
“Breeders ain’t producers.”
Seriously, sorry to hear that. That sucks.
After a while, you feel sorta numb to corporate America.
Middle management killed my soul. I refused to extract every last drop of productivity from my reports. I did everything I could possibly do for them, but I couldn’t make things right for them. (I advocated for raises, promotions, increased staffing, and more frequent breaks.)
Under my management, my team was more productive than they were with other leadership. (Both the numbers and the customers agreed.) My managers said it was great, but then would complain when they saw them not working 100% of the time. (This was “wasteful.”)
The other middle managers were willing to do what I wouldn’t. Upper management would pass me over for promotions, for the middle managers that were willing to be lackeys that would grind up our staff for the good of profit. My mistake was that I wanted to provide great service and treat my staff like the competent professionals they were. The real vision was to provide the bare minimum, find creative ways to fleece the customers, and do it all by whatever means necessary.
I’ve been there. I am much happier not in management. I hope you’re doing well.
With flowers, wine, and by candlelight. Not that it’s any of your business.
😉
I would also do this to my wife if she stood up for humanity. I might even marry her again.
With flowers, wine, and by candlelight. Not that it’s any of your business.
😉