Treated like a secretary
I’m a PM and the dev manager treats me like a secretary. I am the youngest on the team and the only female. When I’ve said, “No, I can’t, I have other things to work on,” he pushes back and asks, “What things?” and then I feel stuck. Any advice for me?
So you don't have anything else to do and still don't want to do anything? Sounds about right for Microsoft.
you dont report to him.. tell him go check with your boss
This. I’ve had other mangers boss me around. At first I put it on my plate but when they got nasty I bluntly told my managers that I needed to know the pecking order and that the other manager kept asking me to do things that’s not my responsibility. My manger took care of it and the other manger left us alone.
’ I can’t’ should be ‘ I won’t ‘
Do you legitimately have something else to be working on? If so, why not just tell them that?
I don't know any of the things being ask, but is it unreasonable? Other pm's doing the same? Be more specific in your response. I'm working on ...., Won't have time today. Shut down the follow up question before it's asked
Use assertive language. And share load. Also every job has grunt work. Is it really secretarial work ? Can you round Robin the grunt work duties? Help the team solve the issue. Good PMs build cred that way.
Just tell him that you aren’t his secretary and that is how he has made you feel all this time. I promise you that he’ll back off.
have you asked your manager if those things asked of you are your responsibility?
If you can’t answer his question it means you have nothing more meaningful to do..so technically you might just be a secretary 😉
I also don’t want to make a scene or have this issue every time something administrative is asked
Why not simply provide a weekly status update on everything you are doing. Then when he asks what you are doing or why you can't do it. Simply refer to the status update