| My boss is competent and understands what we do | | | | If, however, he is relatively new to the job, he may |
| in our department; the problem is that he has few | | | | be more open to "building bridges" with employees |
| people skills and rarely encourages us. It's hard on the | | | | and will appreciate some well-intentioned advice. |
| morale. Any ideas? | | | | I would recommend you bring up the matter |
| It sounds as if everyone in the department shares | | | | informally - and privately - perhaps over coffee in his |
| your views; you might be surprised to learn that this | | | | office. Plan what you will say and keep the tone |
| is a common concern and many employees are often | | | | conversational without being critical. |
| supervised with a low degree of support. | | | | While you may believe your points are also |
| Human resource professionals sometimes use the | | | | representative of co-workers, be careful not to |
| term "Invisible Manager" to describe such an individual. | | | | speak for them without permission or "bombard" him |
| An "Invisible Manager" generally has excellent technical | | | | with a list of general complaints. |
| skills, understands his or her responsibilities, and works | | | | In addition, it will be important to balance your |
| hard. Unfortunately, however, this person has little or | | | | remarks with some positive points: things that he is |
| no capacity to communicate with employees and | | | | doing which you appreciate. After all, if you were in a |
| simply assumes that if they are doing their job, then | | | | similar situation, you could imagine being upset |
| everything must be going well. | | | | receiving criticisms from an employee. |
| It sounds as if you and your colleagues are working | | | | Your boss may be surprised, even shocked, to learn |
| for an "Invisible Manager." | | | | of your issues. Emphasize that you value him as a |
| If he has been in this or a similar position for some | | | | supervisor but that you want to receive better |
| time, it may be more of a challenge for him to | | | | support in your work in order to achieve greater |
| become more communicative, more nurturing. | | | | success and personal satisfaction. |