My Boss Will Not Answer Any of My Emails
One of the myriad of tasks a true blogger must do everyday is check how people find their blog. I use simple software that tells me what I really want to know. How many unique visitors did I have today, what is my moving average, and how did my visitors find me are important data for me as a blogger. If I want to grow and catapult up above millions of blogs, I have to watch these statistics daily.
One of the things I can see is what search criteria people use to find me.
For example:
Someone typed into “Ask Jeeves” the following (today):
“Should a CEO fire a manger for there behavior?”
My blog about Jack Welch comes up #22.
Another web surfer types in MSN:
“when boss doesn’t probably address you”
I come up in the MSN results #3 based on my blog about bosses not able or willing to listen to you.
Someone today typed into MSN:
“my boss will not answer any of my emails”
My heart sinks; I feel this person’s pain. Their boss who controls their corporate destiny, their salary, and their job satisfaction will not respond to email.
Sheeesh. What is that?
As bosses, we can be delayed in our response if we received several hundred emails in a day. I try to respond within 4 hours, 12 hours or at the stressful end of the spectrum 48 hours.
However, I answer them. I tell my staff if they do not get a response, then put an hour on my calendar or drop by and talk to me. I have an open door policy as a manager, unless my door is closed when I am giving someone else 100% of my attention.
This employee is doing one thing wrong. This must be addressed. If your boss does not respond via email, then s/he should arrange a personal meeting. You cannot go on being ignored by a boss that is probably under siege by “corporate self importance syndrome” or CSIS. S/he is just too busy to attend to your needs. I can speak from experience. I was one of those bosses at one point in my career. I let all of the corporate political dynamics usurp my precious one on one time with my staff. They suffered and I suffered.
If you are not getting any communication via email from your boss, you can already assume his/her priorities are not appropriately set. This happens to all bosses from time to time. If it becomes a chronic problem, then you need to insist upon this rare form of corporate communication - a one on one with your boss. Face to face.
Never accept inferior communication from your manager. You will lose big time. Your boss just might get by without a scratch.
Next Monday is “National Boss Day.” I know it is on your calendar and you are planning the celebration now. 
Actually, in 15 years, I have never heard of it. Rest assured the Blogging Boss will have his own celebration. A nice Merlot, good cheese, a fire and my love, my wife at my side.
Here is the history:
“National Boss Day was started in 1958 when Patricia Bays Haroski, then an employee at State Farm Insurance Company in Deerfield, Ill., registered the holiday with the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. She designated October 16 as the special day because it was her father’s birthday. Ms. Haroski’s purpose was to designate a day to show appreciation for her boss and other bosses. She also hoped to improve the relationship between employees and supervisors. She believed young employees often do not realize the challenges bosses face in running a business.”
Source - http://www.calendar-updates.com/Holidays/US/boss.htm
Have a great day!
Eric
The Blogging Boss
Comment by Dave
Guess who wont be celebrating that one?
Comment by Homer Jay
I don’t really have anything specific to say about this post - although my boss has a frequent habit of not responding to email - I just wanted to say that as a front line supervisor and employee of a really nice, but often difficult, boss your blog has been both informational and reassuring.
Thanks.
Comment by Homer Jay
Pardon the poor grammar. I meant informative.
Comment by Ananke
Eric, once again you’ve described my boss (and one of his subordinates) perfectly. While he doesn’t ignore ALL of my emails, only a very small percentage are usually answered. Eventually, I have to go to his office to ask the same question I emailed him about and more often than not, he’s on the internet checking out Ebay auctions or playing that all-important game of solitaire. I recently scheduled a meeting via email with him and one of the quality engineers (his pet employee by the way, who can do no wrong, EVER). While he responded to the email THAT time, the QE didn’t (she usually doesn’t; it once took one month, 4 emails and two phone calls to get her to answer ONE question). In fact, I assumed she wasn’t going to be at the meeting until she walked into the conference room, notebook in hand. I’m fairly certain that if I had tried that, I would have never heard the end of it. I don’t think I’ll be celebrating National Boss Day this year, either.
Comment by The Blogging Boss
Dave,
lol. Don’t blame you.
Homer,
Sometimes we are slow at responding to emails as bosses based on business cycles: however, I try to answer every email that an employee sends. If I miss one it is because it got buried in my inbox. Then I apologize. I wade through 200-300 emails a day. If I can do it anyone can do it.
You should mention to your boss that you feel like your emails are not getting answered. Ask him if there is a better way for you to communicate with him. He has a responsibilty to you.
Thanks for the feedback on my new blog. I am really enjoying it.
Ananke,
No surprises there too! You have to actually have a boss to celebrate. You have an absent boss. Maybe you can auction Hagar on eBay; people buy the weirdest things there. (I am an eBay junky, but not at work)
:- )
Eric
Comment by Dave
Welcome to Battle of the Blogs… I voted for you
Comment by Shane
I hear a lot of calls each week from people who call our law office about personality conflicts with co-workers and management.
People need to know that these situations rarely, maybe closer to never, get better.
The best advice is to leave and what usually happens is that you end up kicking yourself for not doing it sooner.
Comment by The Blogging Boss
Dave, thanks!
First time I have ever entered the battle. This is fun.
Shane,
You are a wise man. The Blogging Boss says amost 90% of the time, conflicts between employees and management cannot be resolved. Many reasons for this, foremost a lack of strong leadership.
You should always leave before you consider kicking yourself the first time.
Glad to have you reading!
Eric
Comment by Jill
Really? Good cheese? Organic good cheese? A fire? Wine?
When is this again?
Do I need to bring a present?
XOXO