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What do you do when your boss...

Abe Froman

Abe Froman

Golden Member
What do you do when your boss tells you that he isn't happy with the final product of the work that you create, but when his boss' boss tells you that he is very happy with it?

Update: In a heated with my supervisor this morning, I advised him that our VP is very happy with my content, and while I am willing to integrate some of his preferences, I am not willing to replace my content with what he wants. It got ugly, which is something that has never happened, but he conceded and backed down.

Small victory for the little guy.
 
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You explain that to your boss if he still denies it, you keep it around. Then if your boss's boss ends up having an issue with the next thing you make you let your boss handle it. Do this because even though your boss's boss like the first one, that doesn't mean he won't like the second one.

If he does have issues with it just respectfully direct him to your boss, and let the big dogs fight it out.
 
DesiPower said:
There is a reason you do not directly work for your boss's boss, shut up and put up.
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I don't do work directly for him. But he asked if he could sit with me at lunch and we began chatting, so I asked him how he likes my work, since he sees it regularly. He's the VP of North North America, who better to get a quick insight from?
 
Abe Froman said:
I don't do work directly for him. But he asked if he could sit with me at lunch and we began chatting, so I asked him how he likes my work, since he sees it regularly. He's the VP of North North America, who better to get a quick insight from?
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Unless your boss's boss has a problem with your boss, you're stuck with your boss as your boss.
 
Well if it something your boss is likely to hold against you when it comes time for your employee evaluation then fix it and do it to his liking.

I guess a lot depends on what it is.

Your boss' boss may not have to listen to customer's complaints so he may think your work is good enough. However your boss may know that a customer would expect better and will complain about the final product. Plus your boss may not bother his boss with all those complaints because he does not want to look bad.
 
Is your boss's boss in a position to critique your work? Is he a consumer of your work? If it does suck, will it impact him? If not, there's a chance he's just being polite.
 
TuxDave said:
Is your boss's boss in a position to critique your work? Is he a consumer of your work? If it does suck, will it impact him? If not, there's a chance he's just being polite.
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Just to clarify, this isn't my boss' boss. It's my boss' boss' boss. He's second in command as far as my organization (global) goes.

He is a consumer of my work. It directly impacts his people.
 
"Gee, wow <boss's boss>, it means a lot to me to hear you say that. I'm glad you like it. <Boss> didn't think it was very good so I almost didn't show it to you... Do you think I should stay on this track or adjust to what <boss> wants?"

Then let boss's boss take care of the rest.
 
Abe Froman said:
Just to clarify, this isn't my boss' boss. It's my boss' boss' boss. He's second in command as far as my organization (global) goes.

He is a consumer of my work. It directly impacts his people.
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Then he has no idea of the inner workings of how you do things. Just because the appearance is ok does not mean the process is correct.

You are going to end up causing all sorts of drama with those types of conversations.
 
AreaCode707 said:
"Gee, wow <boss's boss>, it means a lot to me to hear you say that. I'm glad you like it. <Boss> didn't think it was very good so I almost didn't show it to you... Do you think I should stay on this track or adjust to what <boss> wants?"

Then let boss's boss take care of the rest.
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Which is confront the OP's boss, who will then explain how OP doesn't follow xyz direction, and even though he looks like a good employee they need to fire him for someone better.
 
Abe Froman said:
What do you do when your boss tells you that he isn't happy with the final product of the work that you create, but when his boss' boss tells you that he is very happy with it?
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Abe Froman said:
Just to clarify, this isn't my boss' boss. It's my boss' boss' boss. He's second in command as far as my organization (global) goes.

He is a consumer of my work. It directly impacts his people.
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Then you do better work to make your boss and your boss' boss' boss happy.
 
Really a no win deal. If you go above your boss or call him out about it, there will be resentment. Probably just suck it up and try to find out what he personally thought you could do better with the project for next time.
 
Abe Froman said:
What do you do when your boss tells you that he isn't happy with the final product of the work that you create, but when his boss' boss tells you that he is very happy with it?
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ask why boss isn't happy with it, under guise of future improvement. then casually bring up with boss' boss "oh by the way, i thought of doing the project like <insert what boss says he wants you to do>, do you think thats a good direction?"

don't point fingers or start naming names. just quietly inquire and see if its a problem with you, or your boss.
 
Abe Froman said:
What do you do when your boss tells you that he isn't happy with the final product of the work that you create, but when his boss' boss tells you that he is very happy with it?
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Your boss is responsible for your output.
If he isn't happy with it, what you should be asking for is constructive criticism.
Your boss's boss may tell you he likes it.
That may or may not mean much.

You boss may be insuring that your output is 100% while his boss skims 95% and focuses on the 5% that contains what he is looking for.
 
SpatiallyAware said:
Which is confront the OP's boss, who will then explain how OP doesn't follow xyz direction, and even though he looks like a good employee they need to fire him for someone better.
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And boss's boss starts pondering about the quality of someone who recommends firing a good employee who is delivering good work.

It's win win for OP as long as he doesn't say anything bad about boss, just honestly state the feedback he got from boss. Even throw in some suck up, "and I really value boss's opinion; he's been a really good coach for me in the past."
 
bonkers325 said:
ask why boss isn't happy with it, under guise of future improvement. then casually bring up with boss' boss "oh by the way, i thought of doing the project like <insert what boss says he wants you to do>, do you think thats a good direction?"

don't point fingers or start naming names. just quietly inquire and see if its a problem with you, or your boss.
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Also a good move.
 
Abe Froman said:
What do you do when your boss tells you that he isn't happy with the final product of the work that you create, but when his boss' boss tells you that he is very happy with it?
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Either the higher-up boss isn't aware of the details, or the lower boss has a personal disagreement with you.
 
I could tell you what I'd do, but it would all play out in a dream sequence and then, someone would come to my desk..waking me out of my daydream and I'd quickly return to reality that I'm just a small, lowly employee whose financial future is in the hands of my boss(es) and I'd sink down my seat and sigh...I'd probably even cry a little.
 
Cynical Theory:

Your work is merely adequate. Your boss is being honest, or being slightly more critical than he has to be to encourage improvement.

Your boss's boss is only vaguely aware of you and your work, because it's lost in a mental fog with dozens of other peoples' output. He was being polite.

Extra Cynical Theory:

Boss is writing your performance appraisals, and is maintaining a pattern of "meh" so he can deny you a raise/bonus, whatever. Keep you under his thumb.

Boss's boss is being honest, but he doesn't write your PAs and probably won't notice when you eventually get terminated "for cause." FML.
 
Fritzo said:
Either the higher-up boss isn't aware of the details, or the lower boss has a personal disagreement with you.
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Could just as easily be that his boss has a false perspective of what is required of the OPs work. If that is the case (and you will need to tread carefully to find that out) you will then have a battle on your hands to explain to your boss why he doesn't understand what you do properly without embarrassing him.
 
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