Dear Madeleine, I’m a senior leader in the marketing department of a large consumer goods company and I report to the VP of operations. My boss is tough as nails and pays attention only to numbers, not people. I can’t stand her style. I’m much more of a people person and I believe that the…
Dear Madeleine, I’m a regional VP of sales for a very high-pressure software company. My people are amazing. We have reached goal every year for the last five years and are 100% to goal right now, at the beginning of Q2. My people are not my problem; my problem is that I can’t seem to…
Dear Madeleine, My boss never gives anyone else any credit. It’s driving us all crazy. We recently completed an almost impossible job for him with an absurd deadline and very little direction. He didn’t give us any feedback along the way until swooping in at the last minute with all kinds of changes. A couple…
Dear Madeleine, I am a new manager in a fairly small startup who is just now getting my feet under me. I fought hard to get a new employee—I had to show exactly what he would do and make a business case for him. My new hire, Bill, is great—smart, hard working, and easy going.…
Dear Madeleine, I manage the creative design department for my company and have for years. We have a reputation for offering inspired and visually arresting products—because of me, basically. My boss is a great guy; I actually followed him here from another company. In fact, that may be the problem—my boss is just too nice.…
Dear Madeleine, I am a relatively new manager at a not-for-profit organization. During my first two years working here, my boss told me exactly what to do all the time. A classic micromanager, he constantly breathed down my neck. He left the organization and I now I report to the woman who was his boss.…
Dear Madeleine, Due to a recent move to another country, I had to find a new job. Obviously I had to step down professionally, and now I found myself in an awkward situation: I have more knowledge, qualifications, and skills than my new boss. I see him struggling with his job. Things like time management, getting…
Dear Madeleine, As a sales and marketing manager in my company, I have been raising flags regarding the way we are responding to the market shrinking and business conditions. I see us headed for a critical situation soon and have suggested several solutions to our GM. He simply doesn’t listen. He refuses to take any…
Dear Madeleine, I’ve been in my job for 18 months and I’m good at it. I’m basically pretty clear about what I’m supposed to be doing, and I know my coworkers see me as dependable. My problem is that I can’t get any time with my boss. I send emails and leave voicemails with questions,…
Often, new managers are promoted because they are very good at their jobs. Their supervisors may have caught a glimpse of leadership potential. Generally speaking, they are ambitious and hard-working people. Ever wonder why promising new managers end up becoming micro-managers? The problem is often under-supervision. Many times, new managers don’t get the direction and…