Author Topic: DEAR ABBY: Save me from my micromanaging PM!  (Read 4003 times)

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PSMKay

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DEAR ABBY: Save me from my micromanaging PM!
« on: Sep 01, 2010, 02:09 pm »
This "Dear Abby" post is made on behalf of a member who wishes to remain anonymous.

Quote
Dear Abby:
The Producing Manager for the show I'm currently working on has   insisted that I copy her on EVERY SINGLE e-mail I send about the show,   to anyone.  If she hears that I sent, "Dear Joe, You left your sweater   in the rehearsal hall; I've put it in the props cabinet for safe-keeping   until you're back in, tomorrow," without copying her, I get yelled at.    Copying her on said e-mail, I would get yelled at for not using a   "respectful tone" and not being "friendly enough."  I've begun copying   her on all e-mails, like she has demanded, but now my in-box is getting   glutted with her suggestions, and "friendly critiques", and flat out   "you're doing that wrong," in response to EVERY e-mail I send, as well   as her answering questions I asked other people.

I've been a   professional SM for eight years and a student SM for six years before   that.  I'm a child of the computer age.  I know how to send e-mails, do   paperwork, and DO MY JOB, but she's making me anxious about sending out   even freakin' rehearsal reports.  As far as I can tell, she doesn't   actually need the information she's demanding, except that it makes her   feel important.  I want to tell her that some of this stuff is none of   her business (i.e. the sweater example) but she's proven, on past   productions, that she can and will make my life miserable if I upset her   view of how things should be, and it's WAY too easy to do that.  It's   getting to the point that I don't want to work at this theatre, any   more, but it's one of the few in town that pays approximately a living   wage.

Suggestions, oh wise gurus of SMNet?

On_Headset

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Re: DEAR ABBY: Save me from my micromanaging PM!
« Reply #1 on: Sep 01, 2010, 03:45 pm »
"You obviously want these e-mails sent in a very specific way and format, so here: I'll send you a daily summary of all the messages I need to send, and you can write the messages yourself. I already spend more time on correspondence with you than I do with the entire cast, so this will save both of us an awful lot of time, and you'll be able to ensure that written exchanges with the cast meet your standards and expectations, which to me sounds like a win/win outcome."

It's harsh, but it sounds like you have the evidence to back it up. If she calls your bluff and thinks this is a fantastic idea, it's likely still less of an inconvenience than getting feedback on every "Hey, can you come in 5 minutes early, we need to discuss something" note you send to a cast member.

BLee

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Re: DEAR ABBY: Save me from my micromanaging PM!
« Reply #2 on: Sep 01, 2010, 04:08 pm »
It sounds like she just wants to feel important by critiquing everything you send. My suggestion is keep cc-ing her on absolutely everything. Then set up a smart folder in your email to catch all emails from her. That way your inbox isn't being punished and you can read her excess responses when you are ready. That would be the most non-confrontational way to deal with the issue.

After reading Matthew's post (below) I decided my first sentence is only there to make the writer feel like the victim. It would be a good idea to take these critiques and see if there is validation. In my undergrad years I often had my reports and email communications monitored by a professor who always gave me a critique. Sometimes I felt they were nitpicky comments, but the purpose was the best of intentions. Although the example you provided does not sound inappropriate, perhaps other comments sound differently to others than the tone you intend. I still recommend the above method because as your superior she has the right to be cc'd to company related emails, no matter how mundane, but you have the right to read her critiques and implement them as you see fit.
« Last Edit: Sep 01, 2010, 09:02 pm by BLee »
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PSMKay

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Re: DEAR ABBY: Save me from my micromanaging PM!
« Reply #3 on: Sep 01, 2010, 06:38 pm »
In any case with correspondence, there is a certain level of trust between the correspondents and an assumption of confidentiality.  If that status quo is not in place within a workplace environment, IMHO this should be made plain to everyone who is likely to be involved.

Therefore, I would make it plain to everyone who corresponds with you that your email dialogues are not confidential and are subject to ongoing review by your supervisors.  Additionally, I would noise about and ask if others in the company are subject to the same requirements.  If they aren't, I would insist on fair and equivalent treatment of all employees at the same level as yourself.  (In other words, if the boss wants to review all of YOUR emails, then she should be reviewing the emails of the design team, the TD, the ME, the finance staff, the box office, etc.)

MatthewShiner

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Re: DEAR ABBY: Save me from my micromanaging PM!
« Reply #4 on: Sep 01, 2010, 06:57 pm »
Let me play devil's advocate, and none of us are assuming the that indeed the style in which the stage manager is communicating is NOT up to the par or the way or style the production manager would have a SM communicate.  How funny we are all assuming this is the fault of a crazy Production Manager and not a sub-standard Stage Manager.  There are lot of us on this board, we can't all be perfect stage managers.

Trust me, there are stage managers who do come across very poorly with their communication styles - and if the person who hired you is not happy with the style you are communicating, then take it as an opportunity to either improve yourself - or a great lesson to suffer the requests of fools gladly.  If you want to work with this person, then you are just going to have to deal with their requirements.  Don't like it, leave.

Why not just cc here on all correspondence?  Is this some sort of power struggle between you and the PM?  Why not just humor your boss.  Ultimately, no matter what level you get at level, Stage Management is ALWAYS middle management and we are beholden to the people below us and held accountable by the people above us.  If a producer, general manager, or whom ever wants us to jump through certain hoops as part of working with them - then sadly that is what we would have to do.

Now, the flip side, like everyone said, is to somehow confront your production manager about this request, which it seems like you already have done - and if she is going to make your life miserable if you upset her, then just don't upset her - so, cc her on the e-mails.  As crummy as it may seem, it seems cut and dry.



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