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Next time, write down a clarification question on a post-it note and stick it on the back of a carton of milk in the fridge. When he eventually queries why nothing's being actioned, just refer him to that. He might eventually get the message that using the correct channels get things done more effectively.
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If this won't get you fired, try the following:
1 - disable auto responses to opening emails.
2 - if an email comes with new specs or something, close it.
3 - mark as unread, or better yet, delete.
If things don't happen because the right route wasn't followed, then the other side now has to consider fixing their behavior to get their desired result.
As things stand now - from on high, the perspective is things are working the way they are.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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As others have suggested (indirectly), let things fall through the cracks. Then play innocent. He's the one not following the rules and procedures in place, and he's the one who's going to look bad for it.
IMO.
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Similar behavior happens here, I get an email or phone call reporting a bug or requesting a new feature. I then have to log into the ticketing system and enter everything. Adds 7-15 minutes to my workflow, although I can't blame my users since if it takes that long for me to enter all the info for a ticket, it probably takes them even longer.
If he is traveling/on the road that often, doesn't he have an assistant who he could send these notes to that could then put them into the system for him?
I'd bet part of the reason is "I'm too important to do that sort of work, I'll just send an email to someone less important and make it happen."
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I am doing a contract for a client that does much the same. I get phone calls, emails with terse messages and the occasional screenshot - all used to request a new feature or DCR.
I just take the time to put into the system I put in place to track all this (VisualStudio.com, Work area with Stories, Tasks and Bugs). Then I bill him for the time it took to manage this 
One thing though that happens is that often his descriptions of what he wants is incomplete. So I end up doing the same task with changes about 2-3 times. Again, I bill for this.
Previously I had tried to do full specifications and such. But they never read them and considered them a waste of time (well, I guess they were a waste if they couldn't bother to read them). I tried explaining that it was a lot easier to write a spec and changing that, than to keep changing the code, but they never seemed to want to accept that. So now we just go through this dance (and I keep billing for it).
The client has all the access he needs to do this himself on the system, but just prefers to do it his way (with all the issues this produces).
Long and short of all this, in the end you have to accommodate the client/manager. They are the ones that cuts the cheque that gets you paid. You just have to include this in any estimates/billings you do for the work.
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Vunic wrote: The reason he seems to provide is, "many times he's on the go & travelling & He doesn't want to wait and miss things."
Maybe ask the alternative question: Is it true that it is very difficult, while travelling, to complete the corporate process. If so then push back on that. It is a route that you can honestly point to that isn't your 'fault', but is an issue that needs resolving as you are unable to properly respond (and then ensure that the failure to properly respond actually happens - bugs being lost, wrong bug fixed, anything that points to that part of the process issue).
If it is easiest for the manager to use the proper process then that's the route they will take.
Maybe the process itself is borked (as well) - maybe it asks for too much stuff up front, when there should be a short form to raise the issue, which can then be expanded later. It is very common for the initial form to be 5-10 pages long because every possible aspect is listed on the form and has become mandatory for ever box to be completed before submission.
An easy process is a used process.
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First, stand back a bit, and look at what's happening:
Something is going wrong and it's annoying you.
You're tempted to act on it because it annoys you.
Allow me to be direct about this: sending mails and whatnot is waste of time for everyone involved. Don't do it.
Solve the problem in an agreeable way for all the concerned parties (= management + the senior in question) and then present your solution.
Some notes:
- a solution would entail the senior in question to have less work than the things he's doing now
- it should be profitable and sensible for management
- it should fit within the agreed upon rules, or require only the smallest of amends
If that's too much hassle, let it go. Opening additional emails and team-sites is not an important issue.
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OG had a great response. But you MIGHT want to bring it up with this person.
My experience is that they EITHER don't understand how IMPORTANT it is to use the proper system, or how to use the proper system. Finally, they could be thinking that their input is more important than everything else, or that they want to cover their butt because they just realized something.
The right answer late is wrong.
The right answer in the WRONG LOCATION is wrong! (this is his issue).
Depending on where he is in the chain of command... I would sit down, and explain it to him. I would also suggest that WHILE he does this, that's fine. EVERY NIGHT we can have a conference call, and YOU will help him put the emails into the system properly. The email will trigger you to schedule the conference call. using a shared screen technology, he will get his chance to make sure that it gets into the proper system, and he will be trained, in this process.
If he pushes back at this concept, then you have to find out why! Is it because he doesn't care for the processes or doesn't understand how things need to work. He clearly values his time. THEREFORE, you need to give him two options:
1) Doing what you are currently doing will now take MORE TIME. (nothing you email will get into the system, until you dial into a meeting and get it entered!)
2) Finding another way. Maybe he can have a personal assistant. the secretary, or someone else specifically handle his email... This is an important offer. When he realizes that he is CREATING WORK and NOT DOING WORK with his actions, it could help him see the need to change.
Finally, if this is the kind of self-important person who thinks his items are always a top priority (and usually not well thought out), then I would schedule a SET WEEKLY meeting to get his emails from the previous week INTO the queue... Again, offering a solution that is obviously NOT what he wants, to force him to see his actions as disruptive...
Now, if you are his underling, and powerless to speak truth to power... then OG definitely had the right approach!
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Can't you just set up a mail box that can be texted with "notes" from wherever and whoever?
Archive the notes as they "expire".
Start somewhere. Send a memo.
"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then".
― Blaise Pascal
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A lot of people are suggesting to let things fall through the cracks, but if I was your manager and I found out about you handling it this way - I'd be more than happy to follow HR's 'correct channel' and follow that particular process instead. I'd be pissed.
The question you should be asking yourself is - what makes an email or a hallway chat easier than the 'correct method'. What is the correct method for your team/org?
Shouldn't the tools you use for bug reporting, requirements gathering, feature requests and ideas also be accessible AND relatively straight forward to use?
Feedback in the real world comes from a multitude of sources - and that definitely includes verbal and email requests.
That should be ok.
You 100% might have tools and a process to follow - tools that enable you to understand a users / product owners issue, feature request or bug. Tools that help you track releases, codebase changes and bugs. Realistically - part of your job should be to interpret those initial requests and format those in a way such that they can be broken apart into smaller achievable tasks, bug reports (whatever) - things that make sense to you, your development team and to the user.
If a user wants to get on board, and submit those requests using your tools (and manages to do it correctly) - happy days. If not, facilitate making it easier for them, or do it yourself.
That's not a senior managers job - that's your job.
modified 19-Jun-18 19:16pm.
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I assumed you are getting paid for the time you took to copy the request from other places to a proper place, right? If the answer is yes, then take a keep breath and just do it. If not, ask him to pay someone to do it. At the end you are really trading your time for the accumulation of dollars. What you actually do in between, could be anything.
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Since the latest update of Win10, Google seems unable to open a webpage. It just keeps continually looping.
Anyone else had this?
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Nope.
Desktop: 1803 (OS Build 17134.112) Opens OK in Chrome Version 67.0.3396.87 (Official Build) (64-bit)
WookieTab: 1803 (OS Build 17134.112) Opens OK in Chrome Version 67.0.3396.87 (Official Build) (64-bit) What versions are you running, and which browser?
Sent from my Amstrad PC 1640
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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I am running the latest version of Windows which was updated a week or so ago. I have uninstalled Google Chrome, downloaded the latest version and reinstalled it and it still won't open a web page.
Everything works OK with MS Edge.
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As far as I know, mione are the latest versions as well - the WookieTab updated a day or so ago.
What does Winver / Chrome "Help...About" say you are running?
Sent from my Amstrad PC 1640
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Google is 67.0.3396.87
Windows is Version 1709 Build 16299.492
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So your Chrome is up to date, but the Win 10 version is the Fall Creators update from 2017, not the version that was pushed in April this year?
If this is a new problem, I'd suspect something else on your system, and probably start with a malware scan myself.
Sent from my Amstrad PC 1640
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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disable all extensions and make sure you have the latest version running (help --> about) if Chrome needs to update, you will see it start here automatically. I sometimes cannot use chrome until it has finished updating.
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Don't ask me what I have done, but Google is now working, thank goodness.
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Yes, all the Q&A inquirers, apparently.
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Yeah, I've told Google my mother is dead, but it keeps acting like I need one.
«... thank the gods that they have made you superior to those events which they have not placed within your own control, rendered you accountable for that only which is within you own control For what, then, have they made you responsible? For that which is alone in your own power—a right use of things as they appear.» Discourses of Epictetus Book I:12
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Cool! An interesting factoid from the caption:
Quote: is not a coincidence that a full moon rises just when the Sun sets because the Sun is always on the opposite side of the sky from a full moon
I learnt something new today! 
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
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Next lesson coming up: Why can't you see the terminator and why it's not dangerous at all and has no Austrian accent.
I have lived with several Zen masters - all of them were cats.
His last invention was an evil Lasagna. It didn't kill anyone, and it actually tasted pretty good.
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Beautiful!
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
-- 6079 Smith W.
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