Manager introduces me as her direct report every time

[Anonymous]

This is my first experience and wanted to see if I am overthinking it. Manager refers to me as her direct report in emails, meetings etc. one can click on my name and see who I report to and if someone clicks on her they can see. I find this so odd.

I have reported to more seasoned professionals before and no one ever did that. Could be the first time manager insecurities?

[Anonymous]

As in “Hi Bob, I’d like you to meet my direct report, Susan”?

Are you in fact her direct report?

It’s a little odd, but it’s factual. Maybe she is trying to not call you her “admin” or “assistant”?

I usually just call everyone my colleague, except my boss. He’s my boss.

[Anonymous]

What about other context? Is this your only issue with this manager? If so I'd let it go. I wouldn't be surprised if at one point, someone criticized her for not being clear about roles and responsibilities, and now she feels she has to state it up front everywhere.

But if she is a micromanager who needs to be involved with everything and needs everyone to know how important she is, then it's annoying and unnecessary. So... context.

[Anonymous]

A lot of people don't like to use the word "subordinate" because it has a "less than" connotation. A normal person would just say, "this is Larla, she's on my team in charge of xyz." Maybe she's just slightly awkward.

I don't think there's anything inherently wrong about giving someone context about how you fit into the organization during an introduction.

[Anonymous]

How would you like to be referred to?

[Anonymous]

She just sounds awkward.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like she is taken with her position. I had a contract supervisor who submitted my time card but otherwise has no interaction with me and worked in a different area. I was senior to her and made a lot more money. She liked to refer to me as her "staff."

[Anonymous]

This could be a lot of things depending on the details.

Could be a weird power trip, could be a literal thing that's overly formal, could be that she's proud of you want wants others to know you are on her team and she manages your good work. Could be a personal dig. Who knows?

[Anonymous]

I was deputy gc and my boss (the GC) would do that.

I introduced him to a magic circle partner as my line manager.

He wasn't amused. But did stop introducing me by anything other than my name and sometimes deputy.

[Anonymous]

I refer to my direct reports as my team members.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, everyone, I appreciate your insights. Maybe it's nothing but it sounds weird and as if she likes to establish hierarchy. Also reflective of her workstyle not involving me in any conversation related to the project I support, giving me any opportunities to be seen, and wanting to be cc'ed in everything but not doing the same.

A good manager is everything!

[Anonymous]

I supervise five people and refer to them all as “my colleague, So and So.”

This is also how I refer to the people I report to, when there’s a reason to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was deputy gc and my boss (the GC) would do that.

I introduced him to a magic circle partner as my line manager.

He wasn't amused. But did stop introducing me by anything other than my name and sometimes deputy.

LOL thank you for this! -PP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is my first experience and wanted to see if I am overthinking it. Manager refers to me as her direct report in emails, meetings etc. one can click on my name and see who I report to and if someone clicks on her they can see. I find this so odd.

I have reported to more seasoned professionals before and no one ever did that. Could be the first time manager insecurities?

I don’t see a problem.

Are there cultural differences or some reason you don’t like that word? It has nothing to do with title or experience. She may be saying you’re her number 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I refer to my direct reports as my team members.

+1 exactly

It's weird OP