Handling an Alpha Supervisor
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So I really like my new job so far. However, I'm trying to get some advice about how to best handle a situation. The person who is...I guess you'd call him my supervisor, is a guy and a very strong alpha personality. It gets very frustrating talking to him many times because he might ask me a question, and when I'm not even halfway done with my answer to that question, he cuts me off and starts saying how either I'm wrong or whatever, when I hadn't finished my answer. Today, he made the comment that every time he and I talk, I argue with him. Now, I can't say "I'm not arguing", because that's arguing. However, I'm a little lost at how explaining what I did and why I did it when he's asked me and him not liking it for whatever reason is arguing.
The other issue I have is that this same supervisor doesn't explain things well. He'll say to do something, like transfer data from domain profiles, for a computer migration. He said we could do it with Windows Easy Transfer over the network. However, on Windows 8.1, Windows Easy Transfer doesn't have a network option, which I researched. Considering how hard it is to reach him a lot of times, I just copied any Documents, Pictures, and Desktop files to the user's U: drive in addition to their Favorites folder or exporting their Firefox bookmarks, whichever was necessary. He got upset and when I tried to explain Windows 8.1 didn't have the network transfer option, he got upset and said it most certainly did. He said you export the data to a file and place it on a network location. Now, while he is right about that being an option, that is a different option than what he'd originally said and a different means. Now, I will admit fault for not asking him after the method he was seeming to say to use was not possible and just changing the method. However, I use this as just an example for him saying one thing and meaning another and getting upset that I seemed confused.
Basically just looking for how to best handle these type of situations. How do you handle it when you're being told to do something one way and they mean something else, especially when there is no indicator that they are just using the wrong terms, etc?
Thanks,
A.J. -
Considering both are in IT, there is no excuse for whomever to be using the wrong terms. If you don't know it, look it up and use the correct one, if you can't find it, definitely don't make up your own, full explain what your intention is.
Since you now know he wants things done his way or now way - If you get instructions in the future on how he wants something done I see you have two choices - 1) ask him to show you exactly how he wants it done and explain that you're asking to make sure you're doing it his way 2) take a stab at what you think he wants done, and if you run into any road block, stop and ask for clarification.
In your given example, if you would have stopped when you found no network option and asked him about it, he might have thought you a fool, but then he'd give you the instructions on how he intended them to be done. Then once complete perhaps you could write up the procedure and label it with a better name than transfer over the network.
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Also don't try to prove you are right ever with this type of personality. You are the underling he is the boss person whatever his title is.
@Dashrender's advice is spot on. -
Yeah, it's just frustrating is all. But okay, that's good advice.
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@Aaron-Studer That looks like a good read. This information could also work for coworkers and customers.
Knowing how they tick is the trick to "working" with managers, coworkers and your customers.
I think I will check this out to see if it can help me understand some of my clients better.
