I am in one group - (team a) and I am directly backing this one director (director a). So I am helping him out and completing shit that he wants me to work on (since after all, my direct boss) - fine. Then there is this other director (director b) from a different group (team b), who keeps asking me to do shit for him and his team.
So I tell my boss, that the other director and team b keeps asking me to complete their shit. My boss gets annoyed and tells me that they should ask him first so he can prioritize my work - fine (do exactly what he asks, since after all he is my boss).
So I tell director b and team b to check in with director a... but they don't. And they still give me shit.
Really could use some ideas navigating this turd - (first 'real' job after college, fyi).
I would forward the requests from director/ team B to your director A and say something along the lines of "I can get to this after I finish work for our team, just wanted to make you aware."
reply to director B and say something along the lines that you are happy to help but at the moment you have a few immediate deliverables on your plate and ask for his timeline - copy your director A on this email.
CC your director is a risky play.
For example if an associate / analyst on team B asked me to do stuff I would try to communicate the situation to them and explain that I can get to it but it might take X days. In this situation just CC'ing your director on everything makes you look like someone that can't handle himself / communicate effectively on his own and has to "go to daddy" in a sense.
In your situation since it is a director giving you work and not someone closer to you in age / experience / rank you should be fine to CC your director, especially given the fact you've already tried to clarify.
^agree with Financels.
Since this is coming from another director and your Director A has already clarified that Director B should be coming to him first before requesting, the cc' will be fine.
But if the request is coming from just a rando on team B, don't cc' your director.
My guess is, once Director A makes it clear to Director B that you have things on your plate, the rest of team B will also be off your case.
I think my point would be to keep director A in the loop, like he asked. I feel like doing work for another team is going the extra mile.
When bonus time comes or even before then, you want everyone to know how hard you've been working, so there's no confusion. If you never mention it to your boss again, he might assumed you've stopped working on things from the other team, then forget about how hard you've been going.
Plus, if managers are fighting over you, that's the dream. Just be the one to diffuse by insisting 'you're happy to help'.
Yes I agree. Should always keep your own director in the loop.
My point was related to sending Director B and his team an update email and CC'ing your own director on the same email.
In terms of politics, by repeating an email that states "hey, please check in with my director before asking me to do work" with your own director CC'd you're making a power play and saying "all cards on table, my director backs me on this so either you somehow outrank / talk to him or you get held accountable if you request stuff again without going through him"
On a separate note, ALWAYS get requests / discussions of any importance either on ping or through email so that you always have a way to reference it if any problems come up in the future. I'll rarely ever let my first few interactions with another team be over the phone or in person because I don't know if they are someone that will try to throw me under the bus in case things don't work out. Once I get to know people like my own team / fellow analysts I don't mind discussing offline.
I agree with everything you're saying. But also agreeing with the way Chimp scampi worded it. You probably don't want to ever say, "please check with my direct supervisor before sending me work" and CC'ing him. I agree that sounds like you're being a pushover and running to daddy. But if you simply state you're happy to help directly to the director B, and let him know you do have other matters from your direct report to handle first, then copy said director A, I think it nicely keeps both directors in their respective place.
Yeah totally agree with that as well.
Relevant Personal Experience: I was in a situation where someone kept calling for one off requests. I don't mind helping, but they would ONLY call. Blindside you, ask like 8 questions, and expect a response shortly thereafter. I cracked and had to tell them that this isn't an ideal way to communicate and asked they write out questions. Feel free to call, but I need them on paper as well. Refused to do it, next email went to both our directors. She never called again so safe to say she was put in her place. Sometimes you got to pull the director card.
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