New manager (3rd in 7 months) -- Have I made a bad impression already?

Question

Hmmm small situation...

I started my job in Human Resources at this company just over a year ago. My boss was fired in November, then I got a new one in January who was totally incompetent and fired in March before her probation finished. I have been reporting to the VP in the meantime, and now that I have another, 3rd new boss, he is now her boss and she is my manager.

The VP introduced her to me on her first day this past Monday, and she said she's heard much about me, all good. I said "good to know"! She also acknowledged we've had instability in the department in the past year and hopes we can get past that together, and she seems to be really on the ball and ready to get into things.

She is very easygoing, nice, seems very competent and like she knows what she's doing. She is only 9 months older than me, and I think we are somewhat alike, and could even be friends.

Only problem being – since Monday, I’ve made a couple of minor foibles that I am afraid may lead her with a bad impression already, nothing huge, but little things that may make me look absent-minded.

Monday – nothing

Tuesday – I sent an email with an attachment, which was the wrong attachment, a blank and useless template that was completely unrelated to what I was supposed to send her. I realized it right away and replied to the email with the proper Excel file, just saying “here it is” and not making a deal of it. She seemed to not think anything of it, said “yes I got that file” when I asked if she received properly. She seemed fine the rest of the day.

Wednesday – At the end of the day around 6pm (being quite tired at that time since I get in at 7:30am usually), I drafted meeting minutes from her first day, and opened an email to attach them to send to all attendees. I saw the sent email a few minutes later and realized I sent the PREVIOUS meeting minutes from two weeks ago, so sent the wrong attachment TWICE in two days. I quickly tried to recall the message but saw later in my notifications she saw it shortly after I sent it. I replied to it and sent a reply email with the proper attachment, with a similar message to the first.

Now what? Normally that wouldn’t be a big deal, I see other managers send emails then send another and another within two minutes when they realize they’ve made a mistake, sent the wrong file, or didn’t include an attachment at all.

So why the worry? First she’s my new boss and I’m afraid I look absent-minded. Second I’m in HR and now worry she may think I’d send a wrong or confidential file to someone who shouldn’t see it (this has never happened and I’m always very careful about reviewing my emails and attachments first – but very busy with her first week there, and I’ve been very tired lately too from working 60+ hours per week in the absence of a manager).

What should I do?

I was thinking of addressing it in the morning and saying I hope she hasn’t been left with an unfavourable impression of me based on that already in her first few days.

Alternately, on her first day she said “Well I made it through the first day… how’s your feeling so far?” That told me she cares about what I think, and in response, I care what she thinks too. I told her that she seemed to catch on already, that we seem alike, and I think we’ll work well together. So I was thinking of approaching her on Friday afternoon, asking her how she’s felt about the week, and acknowledging that although we’ve only worked together a week, asking her how she’s felt working with our department and me so far, and if she sees anything with me she’d like to discuss/how she thinks we’ll work together, something to that degree.

What should I do?

What should I say?

Please help!

Thanks in advance for all your help and advice – MUCH appreciated, I just want this manager to work, keep my job, and do it well, and show her that.

Answer 1

Try to meet with her first thing in the morning and just be honest. Tell her that you are concerned but that you want her to know you have been putting in some extra hours and carrying extra responsibilities and due to your relief of having someone confident in her position you are adjusting to the easing of some burdens and this plus trying to make a good impression has made you make 2 minor mistakes and you hope she realizes that you are used to giving 110 percent and plan to in future.

Next, you need to check and recheck all your emails in future way before you hit that send button.

I used to check mine by sending them to myself and opening them and reading them before sending, as I worked for the foul boss from the really hot place!

You will be fine, and if she is any kind of decent person she will allow that we all make mistakes, and be glad that you have caught both of them and are conscious of what you are doing.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

I agree with lorijotx. Your plan to ask your new boss on Friday an open-ended question about her impression of things is perfect. That would be a good time for her to bring up anything on her mind. I seriously doubt she's thinking about the file attachment issue, but you already know to be more careful in the future. If you voluntarily mention the issue, you'll be making a bigger deal out of it and bringing it to the forefront of your boss' attention which is not a good idea.



Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job. You've made it through two bad bosses and still people speak well of you. Good work.



Terrific detail, by the way. It shows that you put a lot of thought into your question. I only get 1,000 characters, though. How did you fit so much into it? I'd love to use that knowledge.

Answer 3

Unless you are pulled aside for a counseling sessions, don't sweat it. If happen to be juggling phones and other things at the same time, some of that multi-tasking is going to get a couple wires crossed.



As long as when it comes to the big things you are rock solid, you have nothing to worry about. Please don't sweat the small stuff. This is only one week out of 52 others. You'll be fine.