Project manager going down in flames

[vetran]

The bike, the swim and a bit of gym time sounds called for.

I feel like a hyporite but lay off the alchohol.

Next humble opinion:

Get the CV out, get another contract in the pipeline. Lets be serious if the client lets this tulipe go on it won't be long before they replace the muppet with another one if he goes.

Don't quit yet see how it plays out, but try to have another contract in hand. If he stays then get your other contract then write to the agent (maybe copy to the client) and say you are terminating the contract as you have been threatened with physical violence repeatedly and you will be leaving immediately. The agent is your client, as a worker you have some rights even in B2B. I suppose its under the heading force majeure?

Have a plan not a coronary!

[d000hg]

Regardless what you end up deciding, don't make any decisions while drinking or at the end of the day when you're not functioning properly.
You wife may be more worried about your drinking etc, so maybe prove to the both of you you can get through it without getting wasted... obviously a beer at the end of the day is not the same as 5 every night.

Good luck.

[RichardCranium]

Get the CV out, get another contract in the pipeline. Lets be serious if the client lets this tulipe go on it won't be long before they replace the muppet with another one if he goes.

Don't quit yet see how it plays out, but try to have another contract in hand.

Very sensible advice.

If he stays then get your other contract then write to the agent (maybe copy to the client) and say you are terminating the contract as you have been threatened with physical violence repeatedly and you will be leaving immediately.

I like that idea. "You have a duty to protect yourself."

[suityou01]

Lets be serious if the client lets this tulipe go on it won't be long before they replace the muppet with another one if he goes.

The client has refused to renew his contract due to his micro managing, and "rubbing people up the wrong way".

The opinion of my permie colleagues has been saught by the head of dept, and they did not put the knife in (too scared perhaps). They gave a kind of false positive kind of response, like, yes he is a tw*t but changing managers at this stage would slow delivery still further, better the devil you know etc etc

I have given some more thought to the deliverable that I got my butt kicked for not delivering. I got handed half a spec, and needed to know the data feeds so was advised to ask the head of data warehousing, who was busy until the deliverable was due.

Knobface chased him politely by email and got a scathing response stating that he must have known about this piece of work for a while, and if he managed his projects better would not be in this mess. It strikes me that I have been so caught up in selfish woe is me type activiity that I have failed to notice that no one else likes him, and any opportunity to delay him, make him look bad or wind him up in a passive aggressive "no comeback" type way is being taken. Now that I pull my head out of my ass I notice this.

Upper lip stiffened, and back in tomorrow with head held high and a smile on my face as if nothing happened, then sit back and watch the fireworks as his boss is back from holiday.

I still haven't got a copy of an up to date project plan, might drop this in to conversation by the watercooler

[RichardCranium]

... watch the fireworks as his boss is back from holiday.

I still haven't got a copy of an up to date project plan, might drop this in to conversation by the watercooler

In that case, suggesting a project healthcheck might be an amusing way to get the numpty sacked.

A review of the project plan, budget and risk log alone may be enough. If not, has the PID been signed off (it never is!)? Is there a stakeholder map (or has the business been ignored)? Where is the scope defined (it won't be)? What are the costs relative to the business case and what is the projected total cost (it won't be known)?

Mention those as "bare essentials" and he'll look a right fool. Better yet, mention them to colleagues and get them muttering about his incompetence.

[Zippy]

You are sounding better SY01. Get stuck in! (or better still, let the permies do it )

[vetran]

Pop quiz

You're at Rourkes Drift and there lots of people waving spears at you, do you :

A. Stand there manfully and hope Micheal Caine plays you in the Movie?
B. Write letters home saying how you are terrified? Then wait for a spear in the back?
C. Try and find a back way out and get another contract lined up?
D. All of the above?

[GreenerGrass]

What a terrible tale. You need to find out where he lives and post some dog poo through his letterbox, that's for sure.

Try and stick it one more week at least, and outlast this tosser.
Going forward I think you and RC need to address why you seem to be a magnet to these bullies. That grabbed by the lapels thing is incredible, you wouldn't get in trouble for headbutting them or a knee in the groin under the circumstances.

[suityou01]

Made it til lunchtime. Felt so ill, room was spinning, couldn't concentrate. I haven't had much chance to get acquainted with my predecessor's work, or the toolset we are using. Yet I am still getting rocked on my heels asked for estimates on the spur of the moment and just can't give them.

1) I have not propertly come up to speed with the tool set
2) I have not taken stock of all that I have inherited
3) I have not yet come up to speed with the business
4) I have not yet received a project plan
5) There is no time for 1-4

I have told them something has to give, and to lighten up on me and lower their expectations for a while, just until I do come up to speed. Also could they stop dropping in sizable unplanned tasks and still expecting me to deliver both the planned and the unplanned all at once.

"It's the nature of the beast" I was told this morning. I don't reckon so, I think they are just disorganised. A suprising number of people have left recently.

[Zippy]

Excellent. You're halfway there.

Keep pressing for priorities on the unplanned stuff - something else has to give. Do it in writing.
How far out have your estimates been so far - 20%, 30%? You should be keeping a record of tasks completed and time taken. Factor this percentage in to future estimates. (and add a bit more )
Breathe ...