Tyrant PM - Quit or not?

**bobspud** · 23 June 2017, 07:50

Here's the thing...

If she's being an arse then she has a motive normally when I see that behaviour its because the victim is not leaning in hard enough and as a result they are having to come down into their hiding place to find them. The only way to work with PM's is to look at their project plan and start following it and asking questions before you need to so that they can see that they dont need to herd you as well as manage a plan that is nearly always wrong.

Not every one is built to be a PM and some people just accidentally end up there. The best way to work with any PM is deliver and manage UP never let them get to a point where they have to ask where a deliverable is.

**Eirikur** · 23 June 2017, 08:00

There is an inbetween. Stay put for a while and look for another contract and walk out as soon as you signed one.

**Pip in a Poke** · 23 June 2017, 08:04

I have tasks to do in Jira. I start things then she suddenly decides to yank me off them due to reprioritisation so I'm getting pulled from pillar to post.

She wants to micromanage everything & her latest thing is to get us to log everything we do in an email at the end of each day. Each ticket worked on, time spent, what was done, tests performed etc. I pointed out that's what jira's for - no need for an email as I log my work in there.

It's micromanagement for the sake of it. But this is only one aspect - the woman's just plain rude and disrespectful in the way she speaks to developers. She sits right behind me so there's no avoiding her.

**Pip in a Poke** · 23 June 2017, 08:07

Originally posted by Eirikur View Post

There is an inbetween. Stay put for a while and look for another contract and walk out as soon as you signed one.

I'm up for renewal in 6 weeks but am not accepting if one is offered. I just need to survive day to day without blowing my fuse and walking out. Got a 4 week notice but for what it's worth may as well stick it out.

I guess that's the real question - has anyone ever been in this situation & how did you stop yourself going postal? Or has any of you ever gone postal over a personal issue like this & did you still get paid?

**bobspud** · 23 June 2017, 08:17

Originally posted by Pip in a Poke View Post

I guess that's the real question - has anyone ever been in this situation & how did you stop yourself going postal? Or has any of you ever gone postal over a personal issue like this & did you still get paid?

You stop it by overloading them with deliverables and giving them everything they want really bloody fast... Its a bit like a SYN flood attack they can't cope and just stop talking to you.

**l35kee** · 23 June 2017, 08:18

Tough it out. That's what i'd do. Use it as a learning experience and how you managed key but difficult stakeholders in your next interview question ;D

**malvolio** · 23 June 2017, 08:22

Originally posted by Pip in a Poke View Post

I'm up for renewal in 6 weeks but am not accepting if one is offered. I just need to survive day to day without blowing my fuse and walking out. Got a 4 week notice but for what it's worth may as well stick it out.

I guess that's the real question - has anyone ever been in this situation & how did you stop yourself going postal? Or has any of you ever gone postal over a personal issue like this & did you still get paid?

You suck it up and get paid, or you leave and don't. There is no middle course. Your choice.

Personally I would have gone long ago, if I was asked to do idiot make work like re-logging stuff I'd already recorded. IF that left them in a hole for resources, then tough, not my problem. I'd also console myself with the thought that I have the choice while the numpty PM is too stupid to survive outside their little bubble of importance.

**eek** · 23 June 2017, 08:42

Personally life is too short to do things and work in places you don't enjoy. I would just walk away....

However, being a contractor means I have enough money to say f*** you and leave... I find that reminding people of that has a remarkable impact on people's behavior towards me.

At last clientco one person who annoyed me was explicitly told by management within 10 minutes to lose their tone and attitude within the office while I was there (she was an utter cow to everyone) as otherwise I would leave resulting in the entire project failing. Clientco thought I had 2 weeks notice, I had zero seconds and stated I was happy to use it... From what I hear her improved behaviour has remained even 6 months later.

**LadyPenelope** · 23 June 2017, 08:46

I'd quit. It's just a few weeks left anyway, so impact on your cv won't be too bad. Life is too short to work for bullies.

Tyrant PM - Quit or not?