Thread by @shreyas

You (at a project status meeting):
Project ABC's status is Yellow
Need [X] more resources to get it back on track.

Your Manager’s Manager (YMM):
We need to zoom out first
I would like to see a doc [or slides] with our strategy, roadmap & resourcing requests for Project ABC.

👇🏾

You:
OK, I have to deal with Acme Inc this week but can get that to you by next Friday

YMM:
Hmm… we really need this sooner.
Can you share by Monday instead?

You: (🤔this must be important for YMM, so I should do what’s being asked)
OK, will do

👇🏾

[On Monday]

You: (📨in email to YMM, cc’ing your manager)

Dear YMM, here’s the document you requested in last week's status meeting. Please let me know your feedback. I am happy to meet and discuss this further so we can proceed with the revised plan for Project ABC.

👇🏾

[On Tuesday]
*crickets*🔇

[On Wednesday]
*crickets*🔇

[Every Day, for what feels like an eternity]
*crickets*🔇

👇🏾

[15 days after you sent the email]

YMM (📩in email):
Thank you & sorry about the delay. This is helpful.

[goes on to make a comment about a trivial aspect of your proposal, doesn’t suggest any next steps nor commits to the resources you requested 3 weeks ago]

👇🏾

You: (saying to yourself)
I have made such bad choices in life😢

THE END

Does this sound familiar?

Hurts to admit, but I've been on both sides of this.

If there's interest, I'll follow up with a dissection of why YMM behaves in this seemingly arbitrary manner, where the problem lies (hint: it isn't one-sided), and ideas for mitigating this.