Looking over my shoulder

LegacyUser

I started a new job 6 months ago. My colleagues are all male& older. The boss is known for being a helicopter boss, which perhaps if I was male& older I wouldn't find such an issue, but being a young female, it makes me feel like I'm being undermined in front of clients? I wouldn't mind if he came in to help, but half the time, it's just to look at what I'm doing, mutters "hmmm",& walk off without any constructive input! Maybe I'm being overly sensitive, but it does undermine my confidence in what I'm doing.
Last week, I arrived to find the secretary (who may have been stirring it, admittedly!) tell me the boss was going through my (own clients') files, to see if I'd any outstanding work that needed to be completed. Again, maybe I'm being sensitive, I know it's a recession& we need to be proactive re work.
Is it just a case of, build a bridge& get over it? How can I differentiate between him just being plain nosy, & him nosy because he suspects I'm not good enough at my job?

Sauve

Sounds like he's just 'being the boss' in a very old-school kind of way to be honest. He's making sure you know he's in charge and keeping an eye on you.

But as long as you're keeping on top of your work and doing a good job, just ignore the guy. Don't even let on you know he's there when he's hovering over you, just carry on as normal.

tenchi-fan

He's your boss! Of course he has a right to go through your files!! At the end of the day the buck stops with him, not to mention he also needs to know how business is going.

It's his management style that he says "hmm" instead of "good job" or making some dumb small talk like "xyz is doing pretty good. are we getting much business from abc" or saying "another day, another dollar"

You are being completely oversensitive.

consultech

As someone said: As long as you do your job properly and completely ignore him while you are working, you should be fine. Don't square your body up to look at him when he walks in, or wait in anticipation for him to say something. Don't even move your head. He sounds quite old school and you're enabling him by acknowledging him every time he walks by. It's as much about him letting you know he's there than actually checking on your work.

Mangud2010

...hey ive been around that meself, best thing to do is just keep reminding yourself why ur there; whether its to earn money to do something or whether u wanna go somewhere higher in that job, or elsewhere. Just focus on where YOU wanna be and dont mind anyone else except who YOU are, and what YOU want, its all mind over matter yall always get 'bosses' like that....otherwise tell him to go f**k himself and his job.

mikemac

I understand your issue but I think you are being a bit oversensitive.

At the end of it, if you make a mistake the buck stops with your boss. He has every right to check your work

But don't feel unworthy or that you are not good enough.
If you were not good enough you'd be dragged into a meeting by now with possibly a warning

You're good at your job and continue it.
As Mangud2010 posted, focus on what you want. If it's to pick up a salary or if it's to kill yourself for a possible promotion, do what you want to do

tenchi-fan

Mangud2010 wrote: »

...hey ive been around that meself, best thing to do is just keep reminding yourself why ur there; whether its to earn money to do something or whether u wanna go somewhere higher in that job, or elsewhere. Just focus on where YOU wanna be and dont mind anyone else except who YOU are, and what YOU want, its all mind over matter yall always get 'bosses' like that....otherwise tell him to go f**k himself and his job.

It's not HIS job, it's HER job!
Her boss is just doing his job, and if she doesn't like having supervision in her job she should leave. It's so immature saying "I wouldn't mind if I was a guy, but because I'm a gurl I feel uneasy!" :rolleyes:

Kimia

tenchi-fan wrote: »

It's not HIS job, it's HER job!
Her boss is just doing his job, and if she doesn't like having supervision in her job she should leave. It's so immature saying "I wouldn't mind if I was a guy, but because I'm a gurl I feel uneasy!" :rolleyes:

I actually read it like if she were a man it probably wouldn't happen as much and it's because she's a girl, she's being undermined. She's the exception in that office and depending on whether the boss does this to everyone or not (does he OP?) - it could be a case of him not trusting her because she's young and female. I'd feel self-conscious too.

The big question here is - does he do it to everyone? If so, that's just his style and you'll have to grin and bear it. If he only does it to you, time to have a word.