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Hi all

I was just wondering if anyone can share some experience in this vein, either from the manager's perspective or the DR's perspective. Ie, what do you do when your schedule or your DR's schedules don't let you keep firm dates?

The reason this comes up is that in asking a woman on my baseball team how her new job was going (a newly minted MBA who was just hired into the GE management program), she responded that she has not seen her boss since the hiring interview (now over 2 months ago). She said he travels a lot, so she is just kinda making her way around.

*RNTT

jhack's picture

I have a direct who is based in Europe and travels a lot. Each week, we verify the time of our one on one via email, and we typically hold it before start of business here in the US or after COB in Europe. (The O3 is almost always by phone, since we are rarely on the same continent).

If the manager is committed, it's simply a matter of scheduling. If they don't, it's because they have things they consider more important than their people.

jprlopez's picture

DR's perspective
Is it possible for her to know the manager's schedule and schedule around that? While it may not be the most effective, trying to get the manager on a phone conference even to just provide updates would be a good start.

Manager's perspective
It's all about commitment. In my previous organization, I was travelling 50% of the time but managed to squeeze time for O3s. (I did miss a couple though)

You mentioned she was on a management program, is it a full-time training kind of thing? Not an excuse for not catching up but it may be part of the reason why the manager does not feel any need to catch up at this point.

WillDuke's picture
Training Badge

Has she expressed her desire for a meeting with him TO him? A little communication might go a long way here. She could be showing him her initiative, or lack thereof.

asteriskrntt1's picture

Interesting comments.

I should add that she went from being a physiotherapist into an MBA program and had never even heard of O3s until I mentioned them. She did not even know her boss was supposed to have O3s with her.

My understanding is that when a world class company like GE hires a rookie and puts you through their management training program, it is usually fairly structured and you rotate through a number of functional or project areas over a couple of years. The company sets up the program, not the brand new lacking experience hire.

He knows her background and lack of formal biz experience. I guess if you can't do face-to-face, you take John's suggestion and do them via phone or webcam.

Thanks

*RNTT

ccleveland's picture

*RNNT:

First, you may want to be sure you understand your friend. Not "seeing" your boss vs. not talking/meeting with your boss are two different things.

I had a boss who worked at another location who I saw, at most 4 times during the year she was my boss. However, I spoke with her at least weekly. On the other hand, I've had another boss who's office was just a few meters away and we often went a month or more without being in the same meeting or having a conversation together.

Guess which one I had a better relationship with! While I did not [u]expect[/u] the latter boss to have more frequent O3s, I did express my interest in meeting more frequently. It did improve somewhat.

CC

asteriskrntt1's picture

when I said she had not seen her boss, I meant it. Since her hire, 2 emails.

Very odd situation.

spiffdeb's picture

I travel frequently and my DRs are all over the globe. I have, when unable to find time any other way scheduled meetings very early in the am or late in the PM or even on Saturday. This reduces the competition with other meetings. This has worked for me in 9 out of 10 instances, both for me with my boss and with my DRs.

Now the 10th instance....I worked for a guy for 3 years who had MAYBE 2 or 3 one on ones with me the entire time and [i]never[/i] gave me a performance review. In an effort to have a dialogue with the man I scheduled weekly updates with him every week for 3 years and without exception something would "come up" and he canceled. Even if I confirmed the day before and traveled to his location. At that point I was faced with communicating what I was doing to him via email which I at least know that he read from time to time. Needless to say the only growth I felt in that job was how to set direction and run an organization with [i]no[/i] direct guidance and input.

He treated me well with salary treatment and bonsues. I found my guidance, input and coaching from other sources during that time - my peers and his peers that I had opportunity to interact with on a regular basis. This is a tough situation as a DR and I think my situation was really an extreme.

I would try setting some early am or later pm meetings and see if you get some access that way. I have found this almost always works and often, the person manages to find more normal times to meet because they hated the odd hour meetings as much as I did.

Mark's picture
Admin Role Badge

RNTT -

I apologize that this has taken me so long.

I have to say I don't understand this situation... and it's almost always ineffective to try to make recommendations on a situation related by a third party, or a hypothetical situation.

Again, my regrets.

Mark