My supervisor at work made a mistake and I need advice on how to handle it

It’s kind of complex to fully explain. My supervisor didn’t tell me and my coworker that we had a meeting to attend today so we were completely unprepared and surprised when we got called into a meeting. Some other coworkers in the meeting did know about it and were completely prepared with detailed notes. In addition she was supposed to call a replacement for us so that we could attend the meeting while our duties were still being done and she didn’t do that either. This led to some last moment scrambling and band aid solutions to make sure all our bases were covered. But we were quite flustered.

Everyone in the meeting knew it was her mistake but how or why this occurred is still a wonder to me. I figured she would at least come to me later and explain to us wtf happened since it was kind of embarrassing for us. She never did. I think it’s important to say something about it since communication in this workplace ever since she has taken over has been really bad.

How should I approach this?
And no, I don’t think she’s trying to sabotage us. She’s just new and inexperienced.

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anythingoes477 · M

Some managers are just bad.............and some like to see how good their employees are. I have sprung surprise meetings before with one main goal..........to see if ANY of the people there could perform without a week's preparation. Think on their feet. If you know your job.......know what to do and how....and know what needs fixing and have a solution for that..................usually the purpose of a meeting.........................why do you need to make notes for 3 days? If a surprise cyber deal needed addressing immediately..............if a monetary issue comes up......lots of emergencies could happen......can my people operate "flustered" or do they fall apart? If you fall apart........that's not what I am paying you for......is it?

Not saying your manager is like me. She or he may suck................but as an employer I see the reasoning for what she did..........if it was on purpose.

Complaining to a boss about why you were not prepared seems kind of silly, don't it?

Notladylike

I’m not sure the kind of context this if it’s normal operating hours or a shift work environment. I’d request a catch up informally give one piece of positive feedback about her approach and then refer to that meeting and I’d say you’d appreciate some time to prepare next time as you’ve thought of so much more you’d like to contribute now the meeting has passed. Ideally she may acknowledge her mistake and learn from it. At the very least hopefully you’ve planted a seed for her to be more organised next time.
I had a very similar experience with someone new to a role and we were clashing a lot because she was calling me in to meetings without any prep time. I’d always be sure to follow up with her individually. Now I’m the first person she’ll bring in to the loop for stuff.

romell · 51-55, M

ITS very simple ..write a application to her as a suggestion how the events unfolded and how they could have been done better as a suggestion

Robynthebeautiful

Sabotage, you got sabotaged

DoubleRings · 51-55, F

there would be no use in that. no one superior to me with any power was there except her and she was getting razzed the others for the oversight @Robynthebeautiful She’s also not in position to fire me. She’s one of many supervisors. But she’s not my boss.

Robynthebeautiful

@DoubleRings That maybe the case.
However, sounds like an office environment to me.
Speaks volumes that she has not apologised.
I would not be surprised if this woman is having an affair with someone there for many reasons. Maybe to get a promotion.
Lots of backstabbing and brownnosing happens in that culture.
Would rather clean toilets under a jackass boss then work in an office and speaking from experience.

Bang5luts · M

This is a very delicate subject. However you handle it, make sure your not alone so nothing you say become misconstrued or twisted

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