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Recently my boss and I were having a 1:1 , and during that meeting he told me about a SaaS tool he was testing for our company’s marketing efforts. The tool was named the same, and was something I had reviewed and rejected at my previous workplace. During our first discussion, he did let me know about this. And I instantly responded saying it’s a shitty tool to use, as I & my previous company had done a thorough review on it. I gave him my honest feedback and left the final decision to him - as it was out of my area of work. What I provided was words of advice, w/ no bias & w/ data points. Within 24 hrs, he messaged me back asking for some datapoints. I had taken extra effort to collect some more data points from coworkers at my previous employers on this product. And all of them gave me a negative opinion which was backed by sufficient data from our earlier analysis. During the slack exchange my boss tells me that this is a new company & it couldn’t have been the same tool. Well, we in the startup world know that all the startups are incorporated after a small round of funding or is running in quasi incorporated form. When he told me this, I logged on crunchbase to see that this company was setup in 2022. I did tell him that I see that this was setup in 2022. My boss was probably upset about this or something related to this. He immediately quoted something which went like - I was confidently wrong, and I should not repeat this! I have been in the tech sector as a software engineer / lead / manager / architect - in my 10+yrs - I have always done things w/ best interest for the employer or my team or my boss as long as it was the right thing. I believe in open communication, and having hard conversations - with a focus to use the best tools and with a focus to build the best tools/products. During the heated exchange I was obviously upset, and I let him know my intentions- that I have data backing my words that it was the same tool, and it was poor. I later learnt through my boss that one of our current investors is an investor in this SaaS tool, and it was suggested by them. And my boss even went on to say that my previous managers at my previous company - their words don’t matter because they haven’t used it (it was definitely appeared like a cheap shot). I respect all my previous peers & bosses - I can’t have anyone disrespect them outright. I am not sure how a small honest suggestion about a tool went from good to bad to ugly. We Parted ways that day and tried reconnecting to have another discussion on this topic and put a closure. We have busy schedules and finding a mutual time to meet has been a problem. Lingering negative thoughts or feelings does affect things at work. Is it wrong to be transparent? Is it wrong to be critical as an engineer? Is it wrong to give an unbiased opinion about a tool you have used in the past? How would you handle a mess like this? I know my boss doesn’t hold grudges. May be it’s a spur of a moment or May be it’s not. I have always been in the top 5% at any workplace performance wise. May be my thinking and aggression doesn’t align with the values. It would be good to hear some thoughts here. I have always had bossses who wanted my unbiased opinion even when it did not matter. I was never criticized for my thoughts even if it was wrong - we discussed politely as adults. This incident does break the trust layer a little. I will have a hard time talking openly on issues with my boss. I will have to think twice or thrice and polish the matter and then present to him. This is not the relation I have ever had to have in my past jobs or wish to have in the future. For folks who do this kind of balancing how do you look at this issue? What’s the best way to manage up? Or should I simply suck it up? TC: garbage ~150k$ Used to make 1mil$/yr and I had an E7 offer from Meta (FB) which I did not take 6months back I really enjoy my tech work - there is meaning. TBH - I don’t know what I can do better. I have been a productive engineer on this team, and I have been straight & direct with all the issues I have seen at the company till date. Guidance pls! #Advice #issue #conflict #management #analysisgroup #manager #engineer #software #help #work
Write your findings and suggestions related to the tools in a company wiki and tag your manager. So when after sometime they learn that the tool is shitty, you can be seen as someone who tried to warn and got ignored. Next time they wont pull a stunt like this.
Try to have it written somehow somewhere for future reference (Even locally as a meeting notes on your OneNote). Then move on. Shit happens, if it keeps happening, then do something.
Just curious how writing in your oneNote helps? You mean shared OneNote?
Both you and your board member can be right (not your manager though because they resorted to insulting your former coworkers.) you're right, that your former company didn't find the tool useful. The board member is right about wanting to find a great customer for that tool ( your current company.) Maybe make up with your manager a bit by conceding that, while the tool didn't work for your prior company due to x, y, and z, possibly these issues can be overcome with p, q, and r. Where you invent p, q, and r. Your manager is obviously not comfortable telling a board member no. They prefer to say yes, and let the experience of the team with the product give witness.
Tldr: however i got gist of it. Why do you want to win that debate. What is the point of it. Move on. When you keep talking abt same thing that you were right just make the other person feel bad.
It feels like you have your data points but continued to argue after the manager was going in the direction anyways. You should have ended the negativity after that and focused on how to make it work. Some other possible failures is that your boss possibly never asked for your advice on it, they were telling you about their new initiative and you shit on it? Also, I hope you didn’t immediately say it was shity, if so you have so much to learn… your first goal when someone mentions it is finding out why they wasn’t to use it in the first place. Then you might have realized you were dumping on something that’s coming from the top
Ignore and move on, IMO. You did everything you could - made your recommendation and backed it up. You win some, you lose some.
this is good advice … thanks for taking time to read my vent