25 June - entry 1

So today I had a pretty interesting conflict with my boss. There was a quarterly award package that he requested to be done on the A1C in my office. I handed it off the my TSgt, who suggested (on the due date) that the package not be submitted. Part of this is my fault, because i tasked my TSgt with writing the package 3 weeks ago, then there was a few high priority situations that came up with disrupted our work, and the A1C the package is to be written for doesn't want it to be submitted in the first place, so I lost track of it, and the TSgt let it slide off his radar as well. Well we went to the flight superintendent (my bosses right hand who was the one we were supposed to turn the package in to) and explained that since the A1C didn't even want the package to be written in the first place, it would not only be a waste of our time writing it, but it would also just serve to lower moral in our section. The superintendent took our suggestion to my boss, and we let the package slide away. That was on monday.

We have the AB temp worker, who is doing an outstanding job, and would make a good replacement for the A1C, who is undergoing a certification process that would make her more valuable in another section of the squadron. The suggestion was made that the AB replace the A1C, and both of the flight superintendents ok'd the personnel move. My boss initially agreed to the move as well. The other flight superintendent wanted the package to be written on the A1C, and since I wasn't going to have her in my section anymore, i decided that regardless of what she wanted, I owed her this package in order to make her more competative for promotion (since i wouldn't be able to write her promotion package). My boss got wind of this, and took my decision as a personal insult. In his eyes, i wouldn't write the package for him, but i would write it for an enlisted flight superintendent. However, my boss did not inform me that he was upset at all.

He then goes into a meeting with the commander, where, after he had already told both flight superintendents that he would approve the AB to replace A1C move, he goes back on his word and completely rejects the idea to the commander. He then goes on to recommend another LT to the commander for a position that he told me he was going to recommend myself for. Additionally, he words an extremely strong(and might i say vulgar) email to myself and another section chief in his flight about missing suspenses, however, instead of addressing the award package issue, he belittles me for missing a suspense that I had already verbally told him i had no input on.

I was absolutely floored after all this. I mean, i work harder and longer than any other person in my flight including my boss. I bust my ass for the guy, and rather than talking to me about these issues, he just throws me under the bus. I only find out what happened after the damage has all been done.

Here's the larger impact though. His temper tantrum, effected not only the relationship i have with him, but also how he's viewed by both of the flight superintendents, as well as the other section cheif he belittled. Sure, he may have scored a point or two with the commander, but he lost a lot of respect from his subordinates and co-workers.

I was happy with how i handled the situation for the most part. Granted, by the time i learned the extend of the situation, my boss had already gone home for the day, so i didn't have the chance to talk to him directly. However, I did do a pretty good job of cooling off before i walked back into my workcenter. I worked out a plan with my TSgt to continue to write the award package, even though the reason for writing it wasn't the same. I listened to the flight superintendents complains about being left out to dry without going on a tie raid about how i couldn't believe what a weazel my boss was. I didn't lose my cool, and i managed to maintain the respect of my subordinates in the process.

Now, how to find a healthy way to deal with the fact that I'm still pissed.