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the middle manager's prayer

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Once upon a time while visiting my dad's office (at which I would later hold some summer jobs) I saw a many-times photocopied sign titled "The Middle Manager's Prayer". Inside the frame it said, "Just kidding, middle managers don't have a prayer."

I had a curious "goals" planning meeting today with my boss in which it became clear that the company and the department have no goals. The second team they want me to manage has seven people, they expect me to cut it to three or four. I also had to deliver the news - without any notes - that both of my current staff had been given terrible reviews by my boss. Not really feeling the love, but wasn't expecting to. Time to just hunker down and trudge through it. I'm making good relations with my staff and some key contacts despite it all.

Lord knows there won't be any other jobs in Canada or Japan waiting for me now.