Being Stitched Up or Just Thinking It?
Discussion
I work for an SME in a marketing role
I have spent 2.5 years here and originally was brought on board as a Marketing Executive to mainly sort the website and social media)
In that time I have had only one bad quarterly review (poor website activity and lack of social media activity).
But the most recent quarter gone went well (about £90k), but my MD is b
king me over not producing enough radical social content (despite it not quite being thought through) and the proposal to improve it was sh*t, apparently during an unscheduled meeting (2 weeks before my quarterly review).
I am not certain if that meeting would class as a verbal warning as there was no mention of time to improve things and it was a totally one sided conversation? Nor did he make any effort to see if there was any issues regarding training etc.
In addition....
My budget has evaporated to do things without any obvious cashflow issues and deadlines have come shorter and shorter.
I am also being asked to do things that whilst I understand them, and can do the basics I am definitely not fully versed in so have a lack of training!
I already have some rods in the fire for new roles, but am just wondering if the great PH collective have any insight!
I have spent 2.5 years here and originally was brought on board as a Marketing Executive to mainly sort the website and social media)
In that time I have had only one bad quarterly review (poor website activity and lack of social media activity).
But the most recent quarter gone went well (about £90k), but my MD is b
king me over not producing enough radical social content (despite it not quite being thought through) and the proposal to improve it was sh*t, apparently during an unscheduled meeting (2 weeks before my quarterly review).I am not certain if that meeting would class as a verbal warning as there was no mention of time to improve things and it was a totally one sided conversation? Nor did he make any effort to see if there was any issues regarding training etc.
In addition....
My budget has evaporated to do things without any obvious cashflow issues and deadlines have come shorter and shorter.
I am also being asked to do things that whilst I understand them, and can do the basics I am definitely not fully versed in so have a lack of training!
I already have some rods in the fire for new roles, but am just wondering if the great PH collective have any insight!
Couple of things:
Firstly, that meeting would not be an official verbal warning unless it was clearly stated as such immediately before or after.
If you have been given targets such as click-throughs, likes, reach, etc, and they are not being met then the company is within it rights to point this out to you.
If you are being asked to do things that require you to be trained to do, then the company is obligated to provide that training or not ask you do those things in the first place.
Saying something isn't radical enough is insufficient direction. This is a subjective statement and subjectivity needs to be removed from the equation - which is difficult when discuss anything creative.
From your post, it sounds to me like you're approaching the work on an ad-hoc basis. If this is the case, invest some time in creating a social media strategy; a plan and present this for approval before you implement it. This way, your bosses take a degree of ownership and responsibility (in theory).
HTH
Firstly, that meeting would not be an official verbal warning unless it was clearly stated as such immediately before or after.
If you have been given targets such as click-throughs, likes, reach, etc, and they are not being met then the company is within it rights to point this out to you.
If you are being asked to do things that require you to be trained to do, then the company is obligated to provide that training or not ask you do those things in the first place.
Saying something isn't radical enough is insufficient direction. This is a subjective statement and subjectivity needs to be removed from the equation - which is difficult when discuss anything creative.
From your post, it sounds to me like you're approaching the work on an ad-hoc basis. If this is the case, invest some time in creating a social media strategy; a plan and present this for approval before you implement it. This way, your bosses take a degree of ownership and responsibility (in theory).
HTH
Do you have a set of KPIs to which you are working?
Has your boss outlined the overall Vision and Strategic direction? Are there milestones in place? You mention you hit revenue which suggests there is some form of metrics being captured, but are these part of an overall plan?
I have sympathy as I have worked with CEOs who were either utterly incapable of articulating what they actually wanted (e.g. "I need marketing resources"). Or worse, they just wanted whatever they had heard or seen somewhere. E.g:
Boss: "I want a twitter campaign!".
Me: "Er, why, we are a B2B organisation selling to multinational enterprises through their procurement departments on an 18 month sales cycle via MSAs and PSLs. Do you have an idea what you will be tweeting and to whom?"
Boss: "I want a twitter campaign!"
As StevieBee says, you are unlikely to have received any verbal warning just from a meeting - the meeting sounds as if it may have been decently logical and objective. But I would suggest you ensure it is minuted. Arrange another meeting to plan the next quarter's activities and remember the basics - what are the benefits you expect from doing "X"? E.g. Brand Awareness, Product Awareness, Direct Lead Generation, Relationship Building etc.
Has your boss outlined the overall Vision and Strategic direction? Are there milestones in place? You mention you hit revenue which suggests there is some form of metrics being captured, but are these part of an overall plan?
I have sympathy as I have worked with CEOs who were either utterly incapable of articulating what they actually wanted (e.g. "I need marketing resources"). Or worse, they just wanted whatever they had heard or seen somewhere. E.g:
Boss: "I want a twitter campaign!".
Me: "Er, why, we are a B2B organisation selling to multinational enterprises through their procurement departments on an 18 month sales cycle via MSAs and PSLs. Do you have an idea what you will be tweeting and to whom?"
Boss: "I want a twitter campaign!"
As StevieBee says, you are unlikely to have received any verbal warning just from a meeting - the meeting sounds as if it may have been decently logical and objective. But I would suggest you ensure it is minuted. Arrange another meeting to plan the next quarter's activities and remember the basics - what are the benefits you expect from doing "X"? E.g. Brand Awareness, Product Awareness, Direct Lead Generation, Relationship Building etc.
StevieBee said:
Couple of things:
Firstly, that meeting would not be an official verbal warning unless it was clearly stated as such immediately before or after.
If you have been given targets such as click-throughs, likes, reach, etc, and they are not being met then the company is within it rights to point this out to you.
If you are being asked to do things that require you to be trained to do, then the company is obligated to provide that training or not ask you do those things in the first place.
Saying something isn't radical enough is insufficient direction. This is a subjective statement and subjectivity needs to be removed from the equation - which is difficult when discuss anything creative.
From your post, it sounds to me like you're approaching the work on an ad-hoc basis. If this is the case, invest some time in creating a social media strategy; a plan and present this for approval before you implement it. This way, your bosses take a degree of ownership and responsibility (in theory).
HTH
I currently have no KPI I used to until this financial year my boss was working on them but Q1 has already gone! Firstly, that meeting would not be an official verbal warning unless it was clearly stated as such immediately before or after.
If you have been given targets such as click-throughs, likes, reach, etc, and they are not being met then the company is within it rights to point this out to you.
If you are being asked to do things that require you to be trained to do, then the company is obligated to provide that training or not ask you do those things in the first place.
Saying something isn't radical enough is insufficient direction. This is a subjective statement and subjectivity needs to be removed from the equation - which is difficult when discuss anything creative.
From your post, it sounds to me like you're approaching the work on an ad-hoc basis. If this is the case, invest some time in creating a social media strategy; a plan and present this for approval before you implement it. This way, your bosses take a degree of ownership and responsibility (in theory).
HTH
That was some of the reason for the proposal to enhance our brand awareness but he got bogged down at a content level not these are the platforms these are what we should be doing and not.
Flooble said:
Do you have a set of KPIs to which you are working?
Has your boss outlined the overall Vision and Strategic direction? Are there milestones in place? You mention you hit revenue which suggests there is some form of metrics being captured, but are these part of an overall plan?
I have sympathy as I have worked with CEOs who were either utterly incapable of articulating what they actually wanted (e.g. "I need marketing resources"). Or worse, they just wanted whatever they had heard or seen somewhere. E.g:
Boss: "I want a twitter campaign!".
Me: "Er, why, we are a B2B organisation selling to multinational enterprises through their procurement departments on an 18 month sales cycle via MSAs and PSLs. Do you have an idea what you will be tweeting and to whom?"
Boss: "I want a twitter campaign!"
As StevieBee says, you are unlikely to have received any verbal warning just from a meeting - the meeting sounds as if it may have been decently logical and objective. But I would suggest you ensure it is minuted. Arrange another meeting to plan the next quarter's activities and remember the basics - what are the benefits you expect from doing "X"? E.g. Brand Awareness, Product Awareness, Direct Lead Generation, Relationship Building etc.
Yes placements from the website is my old kpi. I have nothing currently in place apparently as per my other post my md was working on it. But I just doubt that.Has your boss outlined the overall Vision and Strategic direction? Are there milestones in place? You mention you hit revenue which suggests there is some form of metrics being captured, but are these part of an overall plan?
I have sympathy as I have worked with CEOs who were either utterly incapable of articulating what they actually wanted (e.g. "I need marketing resources"). Or worse, they just wanted whatever they had heard or seen somewhere. E.g:
Boss: "I want a twitter campaign!".
Me: "Er, why, we are a B2B organisation selling to multinational enterprises through their procurement departments on an 18 month sales cycle via MSAs and PSLs. Do you have an idea what you will be tweeting and to whom?"
Boss: "I want a twitter campaign!"
As StevieBee says, you are unlikely to have received any verbal warning just from a meeting - the meeting sounds as if it may have been decently logical and objective. But I would suggest you ensure it is minuted. Arrange another meeting to plan the next quarter's activities and remember the basics - what are the benefits you expect from doing "X"? E.g. Brand Awareness, Product Awareness, Direct Lead Generation, Relationship Building etc.
As far as I know no.
Interesting you mention heard some where as all this started about 4 weeks ago after him reading something from Dan Kelsall which he seems to treat as some God with him suggesting polarising content, but there is little actual structure to it.
I did write the current social strategy one which has worked well until now.
The meeting on Thursday was virtually just a one way moan....with little 2 way conversation.
I have already been looking in answer to the bottom poster. Had one phone interview and a few others where I am under consideration for interview...
Ninja59 said:
...
Interesting you mention heard some where as all this started about 4 weeks ago after him reading something from Dan Kelsall which he seems to treat as some God with him suggesting polarising content, but there is little actual structure to it.
....
I think I know exactly the sort of MD. Unfocused, not interested in numbers or planning, instead always seeking a "magic bullet" that will solve all their problems for them.Interesting you mention heard some where as all this started about 4 weeks ago after him reading something from Dan Kelsall which he seems to treat as some God with him suggesting polarising content, but there is little actual structure to it.
....
Flooble said:
I think I know exactly the sort of MD. Unfocused, not interested in numbers or planning, instead always seeking a "magic bullet" that will solve all their problems for them.
Yep exactly instead of the longer term game.Some of this polarising content is failing already after very few posts it is too obvious!
I got better conversion from an ebook pdf!
Well an update on this...
I have my quarterly review on Thursday morning so I am expecting a bking despite trying a number of different approaches, reading up on some of the controversial approach side of things.
Equally I am probably going to get a bking for not creating a video but the ideas are fine (in line with that controversial side), but all of th footage suitable to meet that is copyrighted so not going anywhere near that and I really have only basic video skills not to the extent required for that.
Ultimately all I see is him trying to manage me out...
Flipside I have had one video interview should hear back early this week and one interview on the 15th. I have more interest in the 15th as it is a ppc role specifically and something I want to progress further with.
I have my quarterly review on Thursday morning so I am expecting a b
king despite trying a number of different approaches, reading up on some of the controversial approach side of things.Equally I am probably going to get a b
king for not creating a video but the ideas are fine (in line with that controversial side), but all of th footage suitable to meet that is copyrighted so not going anywhere near that and I really have only basic video skills not to the extent required for that.Ultimately all I see is him trying to manage me out...
Flipside I have had one video interview should hear back early this week and one interview on the 15th. I have more interest in the 15th as it is a ppc role specifically and something I want to progress further with.
Flooble said:
Ninja59 said:
...
Interesting you mention heard some where as all this started about 4 weeks ago after him reading something from Dan Kelsall which he seems to treat as some God with him suggesting polarising content, but there is little actual structure to it.
....
I think I know exactly the sort of MD. Unfocused, not interested in numbers or planning, instead always seeking a "magic bullet" that will solve all their problems for them.Interesting you mention heard some where as all this started about 4 weeks ago after him reading something from Dan Kelsall which he seems to treat as some God with him suggesting polarising content, but there is little actual structure to it.
....
hy co-worker it can go down hill very quickly.Also once you've done basically what they wanted, they start to wonder what they need you for.
Edited by lyonspride on Thursday 11th July 09:55
lyonspride said:
Or the type that just employs people thinking they'll fix everything, but doesn't actually know what they want this person to do, not too dangerous on their own, but when you factor in a bhy co-worker it can go down hill very quickly.
Also once you've done basically what they wanted, they start to wonder what they need you for.
I suspect this last bit is a major factor. hy co-worker it can go down hill very quickly.Also once you've done basically what they wanted, they start to wonder what they need you for.
Edited by lyonspride on Thursday 11th July 09:55
But similar to the last post yep increased placements as they want and done all that.
Additionally the other bit as per my review today, true gold with a bit of paraphrasing...
I don't want to give you any additional training nor do I want a strategy or plan going forward just do radical stuff (excluding bits that are racist, not PC etc.) and see what works.
f
king awesome strategy and direction from management. Having a look around the company accounts reveal a lot of information about the state of the company.
Have 2 interviews anyway booked in next week...
stevemcs said:
Didn't you go through something similar with your last employer (posted on DW ?)
God it was on DN.Made redundant though which sweetened the deal somewhat.
This time round little different the company has the budget, does not want to spend it, and does not want to follow a plan or direction or have any KPI's what b
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