Teamleader always in CC 12

[zanouk]

Hello all,

Some months ago two team leaders exchanged departments. I didn't mind too much at the time, as I can work with almost anybody and can do my job no matter the team leader (although I feel the former one was a person from which I had much more to learn from than the new one).
For a period of time there were no problems, but then the new team leader started being a complete control freak. I can manage most of her rules, but I have a hard time accepting the rule where I have to add her in CC to every email I send.
Don't judge too fast...on all my evaluations I was over their expectations in terms of communication, as my team leader always knew what I was working on, as I like to be as transparent as possible. When identifying a new topic to work on I would always send an email or tell them directly and mention how I would go about fixing it, but then I would have fixed it directly and send to the team leader an email when the problem was fixed (one email only with a whole conversation maybe, and the solution to it). I thought this was an elegant way of dealing with things, I was also able to construct some work relationships with colleagues in other departments, all was well.

The problems I have with this CC rule are:
- I think some people will interpret it badly and thing that I need to add "my mommy" in order to receive an answer from them => I don't really know what I'm doing/I'm not really confident
- I cannot be proactive and make my own decisions (although I am the responsible person in some projects) because she has the annoying habit of interfering (i.e. when I receive an answer she sometimes replies before I get the chance)
- I feel that I cannot connect as easily to people in other departments

Do any of you have the same rule - boss always in CC for every stupid email? How do you deal with it? Am I just analyzing this too much and all the points I have on not liking the cc rule are just stupid?

Any insight would be helpful.
D.

 

[tickle]

I hate email traffic, I get 100 emails per day. In my opinion, the "reply all" button should be removed from Outlook and the ability to add other people in to email chains should be wired to the mains electricity. I do my bit, I have a phone and I have legs, and I use them. As most of us posters and readers on Eng-Tips know, often the pertinent bit of information is missed or overlooked. A face to face conversation helps loads. And once a face to face rapport is developed emails are easier.

 

[LiteYear]

Make a rule in your email client. All emails BCC to teamleader. That way it's no concern for you; the recipient doesn't know mummy is involved; and if she decides to butt in then she has to take the surprise into consideration. And don't hesitate when sending emails. Hopefully she'll be swamped and stop reading them.

 

[cvg]

use IM, face to face or telephone and quit using email for every little thing.

 

[1gibson]

Have to disagree about malicious compliance being passive aggressive. There is nothing passive about it if you are doing it right.

Probably the most common reaction when a person does not like a situation that is beyond their immediate control, is reluctant, begrudging compliance. Now that is passive aggressive.

 

[SNORGY]

Trust me, the "blanket cc" is a lot more palatable than the politically-motivated, "selective cc".

Few things at work anger me more easily than seeing a political "selecive cc" to a superior or a client. When people want to play those kinds of games with me, then I walk over to the offending individual, have a one-minute conversation, and either modify or put an end to their participation in that or any subsequent email chain.

In your instant, just hit cc. People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing. Be one of those people.

 

[moltenmetal]

The only thing worse than reading all that e-mail is not reading it and being responsible when the train has already left the rails and is well down in the canyon.

Sure, we all talk to one another, and that's good- but I still need to be copied on written correspondence.

I'll take the cc's and read the e-mail, gladly. When my employer is paying me to do it, it's hard to object. Not after hours, or on weekends, unless I've asked for that communication- a lot of people fall into that trap, but I never will.

If I were you, I'd pick my battles. You're unlikely to win this one. Do what you're asked.

 

[msquared48]

When she starts getting 500 emails ever day and cannot deal with them all, affecting her performance when the more critical ones are missed, she will change her requirements.

Happened here...

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[msquared48]

Some people just have to learn the hard way when to control, and when to let others do their job.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[kacarrol]

I second liteYear, see if a bcc will suffice. That way you fulfil your teamleaders requirements and it takes out the discomfort for you having your recipient know that the teamleader is on every correspondence.

 

[KENAT]

BCC can get messy too.

That's one of the reasons I end up with more people on my 'to' and 'CC' lines than I'd really like because if you don't include them initially they can at some point get left out of the part of the chain they do need.

I.e. they may not be directly affected by my initial email but may care about a reply etc.

Or the email chain breaks into sub chains etc. which can be a pain and I end up spending time managing the email chain rather than working...

So, yeah before emailing think if a phone call or walking over to someone may be more effective but sometimes the 'paper trail'/keeping other folk in the loop is appropriate.

I know there are software offerings that effectively act like a forum or blog for specific topics I can't help thinking that would be better for many applications of email.

Either way, unless you don't want your manager to see your email for whatever reason (some of which you hint at) I don't see the issue with CC them.

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[DRWeig]

Hey KENAT, you're not allowed to call BS on my "malicious compliance = passive-aggressive" statement unless you've supervised an individual with that particular disorder for a few years.

Me: "Say, Big-guy -- how about getting somebody to clean up around the loading dock sometime?"
Big-guy: "No problem!"

A couple hours later, the president of the company and a police officer are in my office wanting to know why big-guy has closed the street (a major one) with orange barrels and brought in a truck-mounted pressure washer to the dock area. Big-guy told them I said to do it.

Anyway, that's my experience with malicious compliance. I am not in favor of it. Even if it is different from passive-aggressive behavior, it can get one labeled as a passive-aggressive person, which does not sit well with HR weenies.



Best to you,

Goober Dave

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[KENAT]

Well, that's a bit beyond simple 'malicious compliance' or at least taking it nuclear but fair enough.

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[SomptingGuy]

"The sender has requested a read receipt."

Oops, butter-fingers. Seem to have hit "No". Never mind. Just blame it on my Linux news client that I insist on using instead of the M$ thing we're all assumed to be using.

- Steve

 

[TheTick]

There are a number of possible reasons for the CC requirement: accountability, mentorship, tracking, paranoia... There is only one real option: comply.

One result of this policy in my workplace is that I make more phone calls.

 

[TenPenny]

If your organization is like some that I've dealt with, any time you make a phone call to any outside party, you have to take notes and put the notes in the appropriate file.

I think it would be simpler to use email.

 

[loki3000]

"Malicious compliance = passive-aggressive."

Sorry I call BS on that one, or alternatively say that one persons 'Passive Aggressive' is another persons 'Unconventional Warfare' - you know like the US used during the revolutionary war etc.


of course it's passive aggressiveness. a good way to get fired.

 

[KENAT]

Well I guess I'm lucky to still have a job then.

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[truckandbus]

While you can't control the actions of people external to the company as far as email responses go, it is useful to have a departmental if not company policy on email usage and etiquette. If cc the team leader is one of the rules, so be it. My department had a few other practical rules - no bcc; no email trails more than 3 replies deep (at that point your audience isn't getting the point and you need to walk over to see them or pick up the phone); actions are required from those in the to: field, people on cc: are for their information; sarcasm doesn't work in writing (especially if there are cultural differences).

 

[TenPenny]

actions are required from those in the to: field, people on cc: are for their information

That's one we use, as well. If you are cc'd on an email, it's for information, you aren't expected to do anything. If the email is to you, it may require some action on your part.

 

[GregLocock]

"no email trails more than 3 replies deep "

smart.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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