Wish Me Some Serious Luck Today...I'm Going Head to Head with My Boss

Today, i reach a milestone as a still relatively new employee...I have to "put my foot down firmly" w/my boss. He placed me in charge of an event to which HE committed before I even came on board. The event has DISASTER/HUMILIATION written All Over It due to poor planning, no event specifications in writing...and not even any firm commitment for payment from the person we would be hosting the event for. I'm a dedicated employee, but i'm not interested in suicide missions.
At the same time, I'm still new and lord I need this job. I think I have my boss's respect and I feel that I've done a good job so far...but I'm still scared....wish me luck today.

Do you have time to tell us how you will approach him on this? Was he the planner, so you have to watch his ego? Or would he possibly be getting ticked at someone who no longer works there?

And don't worry, we've got your back!

emmy

Good luck Mac, sounds scary enough to me, like the kind of thing that often harbors hidden hazards.

Best wishes for a positive outcome, McDonald.

sending good vibes your way.

thanks for the feedback...i just had the confrontation (with the door closed) and I told him that #1, he was the boss & the ultimate decision was his...but that if we decided to proceed w/this illfated project that I wanted the authority to limit our reponsibility to opening and closing the door at the time appointed..and I also asked him for assurance that we were adaquately covered liability wise since this area will still be part of a "construction zone" and that I didn't want to be responsible for any attendee of the event "turning their ankle on a work site clod of dirt" As a male, he seemed to appreciate my practicallity and concern for $ matters. I figured that it was the only way to approach w/out getting into "authority" issues...Gosh, emmy, where did plain old Pride go when it comes to business? Pride and honesty in dealings...? I guess I've been out of the "real working world" too long...thanks again...grace

Sounds like it went ok. Are you happy with the outcome?

Ugh. I just typed this big long thing in caffeinated hyper speed, and oopsy saw my little email thingy flashing...d'oh. HAD to check my mail!! Of course, silly me lost what I typed. I think it had to do with taking pride in our work.

I think people just don't do that as much as we used to...maybe it has to do with people changing jobs so much more - voluntarily and through layoffs. People don't have corporate loyalty like we used to in the "olden days". So when you don't care about the company, and maybe you don't care about your boss, and maybe you don't even care about your own reputation....poo happens.

When I first started working my father told me, "make your boss look good and you'll look good". He was right. Even when my boss was an idiot, working to help him succeed made me look good. And helping him achieve success helped the whole department look good. When the department looks good, more money is allocated to the department for salaries, supplies, etc. And even if he still failed, at least I looked like an employee who cared. And I actually DID care. I had heard so often in my life that I would amount to nothing, that when I suceeded at work, it was REALLY important to me. I gained a lot of ego strength there. Heck, I'm greatful for that crappy job!

Things are more difficult now for kids starting out. I try hard to encourage the "youngins". The positive feedback they receive at work may be the first they have EVER gotten in their lives. It can be a turning point for them.

Wow, that was a walk down a very old dusty memory lane! I think I got a wee bit off tanget tho...

emmy

Sounds like you did a great job. Good for you!
gg

You did good Mac. I'd still watch it though. Oh, and TAKE NOTES, write down who said what and when - gotta cover your butt just in case. Take care.

Wonderful to hear mac!

Sounds like you handled everything perfectly.