How do I give my manager a constructive feedback?
My new manager has very good intentions, but he's too hands on. Specifically: - he is so prescriptive to a point that annoys me (I'm senior and can do stuff end to end) - his way of thinking is not wrong, but not always the most efficient way. When I try to convince to do in a different way, he comes up with 10 reasons to do his way... and since he's the boss,I do it his way. I'm not the only who has this perspective about my manager, and I had zero issues with my 4-5 previous managers. I would be totally cool if I was on my way to a promo, but now he's saying he's annoyed tasks are taking too long. Maybe I'm slow, but I honestly think things would complete faster if he let me do the tasks my way, or help simplify the deliverables. Can someone help me figure out a nice way to approach my manager? Please no trolls... this is really taking a toll on my mental health and my productivity started to go downhill. I'm also seeking mental health professional (which I found, thank God) $450k
Don’t hold back. Tell him as is, but just before you do that, speak with his boss, his boss’s boss and one more per of his boss’s boss. You will get more advice. Be prepared to leave if it comes to it. But key is to not be cornered by one individual.
maybe, but my boss' boss is a VP and things get really ugly at that level if I'm not careful with my choice of words and methods
Whatever you do, get multiple parties involved. If you share feedback with only boss and his boss, they will corner you and manage you out.
Get a new mgr. they won’t change for you.
1:1 with the skip manager
But "his way of thinking is not wrong, but not always the most efficient way. When I try to convince to do in a different way, he comes up with 10 reasons to do his way... and since he's the boss,I do it his way." - you are doing it his way because you are not able to convince him that your way is more effective or better in some way. He is new and doesn't know who to trust and that is leading to this. You need to be able to push back, and at the same time bring up the micro management with the skip manager. You have to be able to prove to the skip how your way is effective but you end up doing things your manager 's way because of the micro management. If enough people bring it up with the skip then they can act on it. Otherwise it is just you not being up to the mark.
As a manager, I’d love the feedback. Be open, provide specific examples and structure it like “this is what I see, it makes me think / feel like this, how do you see it and how are you feeling/ thinking about it?”. Also, is your manager new to management? Perhaps they need some feedback and informal coaching. Good luck, hope this helps you.
helpful. The person happens to be new to management. I'd love to see him grow as a manager because his IC skills are way beyond his level (and he is L7).
This is the main issue with your manager, he is acting like an IC, probably not used to delegate and get stuff done though others. There are 2 options Easy way: switch teams/companies. If enough talent starts leaving then your ship will notice and take care of this manager. Moderate way with some risk: if you like your tan and work, start giving feedback to your manager during 1:1 with examples. Use the phrase you are feeling micro managed. Have meeting with your skip and discuss it with same examples. Ask your manager why he thinks his way is the only way etc. This will be a time consuming process as people don’t change quickly. It may even backfire and manger could get defensive if he is not open to feedback.
You dont give constructive feedback to a Mgr unless you plan to leave. You work for him. He doesn't work for you
There are potential nuances here. The answer depends on which case you fall into - 1) your manager does indeed have a better proposal and he's trying to give you feedback to take the better route. You do agree his ideas are better but you don't appreciate how prescriptive he is and want to just do things your way instead of the right way. 2) your manager does indeed have a better proposal but you think yours is better without seriously evaluating the pros/cons. 3) your manager may indeed have a better proposal but he didn't explain the rationale and expect you to just follow it. 4) your manager has a proposal that's objectively worse than yours but he thought his was better because he didn't internalize your rationale. 5) your manager has a worse proposal and he's aware of how yours is better but he still wants to do things his way. These 5 cases need completely different solutions. Which one is your case?
Nice
In most of the cases it's 4, I try to explain why my solution is better and more efficient, but he doesn't listen and try to sell his ideas. Sometimes we would argue for more than 10-20 mins how.a simple implementation would work, which takes even more energy than actually doing it. I think it could be my fault that I am not persistent enough, but I never had to deal with this in my entire career.. not with a manager. And unfortunately this is starting. to deteriorate my motivation, mental health and ultimately performance.
Quit
I said please no trolls. I have a family to feed
Your mentality about quitting speaks volumes