Getting Feedback from My Boss

Pix_Z · 02-08-2010, 02:03 PM

I've gotten a new boss recently and am having trouble getting feedback from him. When I show him something, he'll make a face like he doesn't like something, but when I ask what it is, he shuts up. I have a feeling he doesn't know how to express what it is he doesn't like, or that he can't pinpoint it, but even when I ask to just point to the area he doesn't like, he doesn't do it. Then later he'll say exact things he wants me to try and change. At that point I get the feeling he's thinking I can't design because he has to tell me exactly what to do. (I've been here for 10 years under 3 other bosses who were happy with me and working projects with many others, so I know that's not true.)

He's also been asking to see work in progress, then unless it's obvious that it's only 10% done, he acts like he doesn't like it. I get the feeling he's evaluating it as if it's a finished piece. I even tell him specific areas that I haven't gotten a chance to change, but I intend to. Then later he'll say he doesn't like that part of the piece. If I tell him the work isn't done when he requests it, he says it doesn't matter, he wants to see it anyway.

How do I get feedback at the appropriate time from this guy?

J_Frye · 02-08-2010, 05:12 PM

The only thing you can try to do with ' control freak ' type personality disorder is to suck it up til the next boss comes 'round

Honestly though...you can get more flies with honey than vinegar. Just tell the dude that you would appreciate his input...' ask and ye shall receive ' ... those types need to feel in charge regardless of whether or not you listen to his response

Gregory · 02-08-2010, 05:28 PM

^^ good advice.

Has this guy been in charge of designers before? He might be out of his depth and unable to admit it. Be ready to explain your design decisions and pepper it with things like, "...Don't you agree?"

Pix_Z · 02-08-2010, 05:35 PM

I do ask for his opinion, but he acts like he's holding back.

He has supervised designers in his previous job. I get the feeling, though, that he wants everything to be like his previous job. He's switched print vendors even though some of their quotes are higher than my previous vendors for the same things. And he keeps trying to implement solutions that are from his previous job. Some of them are good, but some of them are way too expensive or inappropriate for our (conservative) corporate culture. So maybe he's uncomfortable unless he gets exactly what his previous designer gave him? I did ask him what he liked at the onset, and he showed me his previous designer's work. I came up with something similar, but I really don't want to just copy the whole thing exactly.

Cre8tivDirector · 02-08-2010, 05:44 PM

Hoo boy - sounds like your new boss and my new boss should get together and go bowling.

It's taken me a few months to figure out what exactly my boss likes. Will likely take you some time too. It took me being honest with my boss. I went into his office with a pdf full of work our company has done over the last few years - some mine, some not - and during our one on one meeting we went through each one. I made him pick each piece apart and tell me what he liked what he hated. What worked from a marketing standpoint vs what didn't. Since that day - it's been a lot easier to get good solid feedback from the Boss.

eugenetyson · 02-08-2010, 05:50 PM

I don't stand there waiting for feedback. I just put it on the desk and say "there you go" and walk out.

Then just keep working on it. By the time they get through it and come back with the changes, I have most of it done and different to how they last saw it. So i print that out along with all the changes they ask for and then give them that.

Eventually they come back with a whole rewrite and then I have to redo the layout again anyway.

Fun.

Cre8tivDirector · 02-08-2010, 05:52 PM

Yea Eugene i work like that a lot too - but i've learned that there are certain people whom I work with that I literally cannot do that. I'd constantly be redoing everything and not only reinventing the wheel but spinning it while I was at it.

Pix_Z - have you openly talked to your boss about this? You could pose it as a question on improving your productivity. It's hard to improve your productivity rate when you've got someone constantly hovering.

Pix_Z · 02-08-2010, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cre8tivDirector

Pix_Z - have you openly talked to your boss about this? You could pose it as a question on improving your productivity. It's hard to improve your productivity rate when you've got someone constantly hovering.

No, I will, though, if it persists. It's early in the relationship so I didn't want to seem like I was complaining or too confrontational. I was hoping there was some gentle way to get him to provide more feedback as to what he wants.

Ang · 02-08-2010, 09:01 PM

now i think is the best time to do that, it gonna be awkward regardless, but to me its easier when you dont 'know' someone as well.

eugenetyson · 02-08-2010, 09:22 PM

Just ask him for a meeting. Tell him you're doing this 10 years and you find the feedback being given is counter productive and explain why. They be happy to get a few pointers to help them along with the proofing process.

You could even explain that giving them a printout when it's only 10% finished isn't helpful to either of you - it's counter-productive.

Keep pushing it so that it's time-consuming and how negative an effect it has your time management for projects.

Don't go to them and say "Oi! sort it" and point your finger at them meancingly, that won't be helpful.

Come up with a logical way to express the problem without involving you or your feelings and put into management speak, so that it sounds like your'e talking about how valuable it would be for the company if you were both on the same page etc.