Hey guys,

For the most part I'm a pretty laid back person who doesnt get angry very easily (besides getting irritated at myself for being bad at gaming). However my employer has driven me to the point of rage. I work for an insurance agent helping them with growing their sales in their agency. The reasons I'm angered are numerous so bear with me here. This is her first year of agency after having worked in the industry for several years. Still she can't do ANYTHING for herself. She's unable to do a quote, write a policy, or service a customer without help. Yet micro manages every phone call we make, following up with customers we're dealing with. She refuses to lift a finger to help a customer even making them call our claims department themselves when SHE is able to write a check from her desk. She routinely makes them wait 20-40 mins for SCHEDULED appointments. She dangles peoples jobs over their heads saying that if they don't meet production she just can't keep them. That's really motivating. She is NEVER at work. She arrives an average of 60-90 mins after we open, takes 1 1/2 - 3 hrs for lunch, leaves by 3 pm most Fridays, misses HER required Monday morning meetings before work without contacting anyone to let them know she isnt going to be there, goes to the "bank" for hours at a time (apparently she banks in the next state), has been on so many trips that kept her from work on Mondays and or Fridays so many times I've lost count. Then had the guts to whine about how she needs a break and to go somewhere because she's just so stressed. Then she is "sick" all the time on top of it all. THEN has the nerve to be upset because everyone had things going on and couldnt stay after work last night to meet with her about goals for the upcoming year. When other agents in town are closing their offices today for half the day today she required ALL of us to stay all day. Merry Freaking Christmas huh? Even after one person volunteered to stay and let everyone else leave. On top of that she's worked 9 hrs all week long including 2 hrs today. Half of which she balanced her personal check book. She "had" to leave early (1pm) but made us all stay here. We've seen 2 people all day. It's not like we're slammed and doing tons of business. I understand she writes the checks. I also understand from having been in management that is exactly why she HAS to set the example. I also know that I would do everything I could to work it out for my employees to be off. I've never seen a business owner who was in their first year who worked less than 20 hrs per week on average. She's a piece of work. I'm doing my best to get out of here ASAP. Pray that I don't go postal and throw a choke slam on her the next time she says to me "We've got to get your production up". Thanks for letting me vent. I know I rambled on and on but I barely scratched the surface. This person is beyond being clueless.....

Junkie

I know what you are going through and it isn't an easy thing to deal with. You just have to know that eventually she will "get hers". Unfortuantely she believes she is living the "Donald Trump" exec. lifestyle, and thinks this is how it's done. What she doesn't understand is that she is just one of the many spokes in the wheel, so to speak. One of these days she will be found out and sent down the road and OH what a reality check that will be for her! It just seems that those types take FOREVER to be found out because, usually the excellent staff make people like her look good.

Typically, once morale is down the tubes, production suffers and ink starts turning red, the last ditch effort is to fire everyone her paranoid dillusions tell her are her enemies (which are usually the most productive staff members) and then the bosses see the red ink, coupled with high turnover, and her bullshit lines don't give everyone the "warm fuzzies" anymore, and she will be shown the door.

Until then, try to keep a cool head and rise above it. In the end, it will work out. It's really hard to see it now though, especially at a high profile holiday like Christmas when it seems egos and feelings are really on the cuff.

Merry Christmas Junkie! Sorry you have to endure such a dumbass, but there is an endless supply, sorry to say.

Geno,

I've seen this type of person several times during my 30+ years in business. Fortunately in big corporations they are usually (but not always) weeded out as time goes by. It is unusual to see this behavior for a small business owner. Since you said she had "goals", it makes me wonder if she really is the owner. Maybe there is a higher power you can talk to that really cares about the business. If you are leaving anyway, it might not hurt to document her activities and pass it along.

Old Man Mike
Retired and no longer a BS recipient (except when killing Geno)

Ive seen this knd of person, nice ....not, but they usally get theres in the end. Try to imaging her being fired and escorted out the door, it help to put me in a better mood.

Happy Holidays

Wow Geno,
Keep your cool buddy, she sounds like she has a few personalities. Start quietly looking for another job, as she will probably run the business into the ground herself. Micro-managers normally are those that know they have no respect from there employee's. So micro-managing gives her the feel that she has power. Respect as a empoyee as with an employer is earned. The difference is there is also position power which comes with her job. Thus, you may feel like telling her to STFU...but the only thing it would solve would be putting yourself on the un-employment line.

This will solve your problem: Everytime you look at her, think about her being on the Donald Trump show and him telling her "YOU'RE FIRED". I can just imagine you will have a little devilish look on your face and she will not have a clue why.

Or you could always tie shrimp to the bottem of her car tail pipes. Her car will smell forever...LOL
Time for you to enjoy Christmas:)

Think Happy Thoughts Deep Breath, Count to Ten
T/A6Pak

Geno,

The unfortunate part about it is that business owners and managers aren't necessarily good leaders. They are definately not required to be good people managers either, and are rarely trained in the discipline.

At the end of the day look at what you are going to take from the experience. I suggest that you can learn ways to manage (from below) and improve your relationship with her. One thing I guarantee is that you will encounter challenging people throughout your career and this, although frustrating, can be experience dealing with with difficult people. Just FYI, there is a ton of information on this subject and her behavior is NOT unique... I'd google it for a place to start, it may give you some techniques to help! I searched "managing difficult boss" and many usefull articles came up.

Your challenge and goal is to find a way to work with this person, at a minimum until you can "get the heck out of there" with your dignity and her head in the right place!

Good luck... Hang tough, and you can chill out now!
Merry Christmas!
SH

This person certainly does not act like an owner. Unless, it was passed on to her or some such thing. Probably just managing it for some one else.
Her behavior is not so uncommon, and they do usually get weeded out as OMM says.

The best action for you is to document this and look for another job (because when the shit hits the fan-she will start pointing fingers).

On your exit interview hand over the documentation.

Go to work with your rifle ....and you know what you have to do from there

Cpt. Snot Rocket Posted Yesterday, 6:55 PM
The best action for you is to document this and look for another job (because when the shit hits the fan-she will start pointing fingers).

On your exit interview hand over the documentation.

DITTO!