So my mentor (30-something) has the habit of asking me to remind him of things the whole time. To clarify: I’m not his assistant en he is not my boss, our “positions” are the same except for the fact that I’m an intern. He is the person assigned to read and correct my thesis.
He literally tells me: “remind me of your deadlines throughout the week” , which translates to me having to ask him every day if he has done his part yet: “the deadline for chapter 1 is next week, did you correct it?” “I’ve finished the statistics, could you read them by next month?”, and repeat every day.
One day I didn’t remind him of anything because I was busy with my research, and the next day he complained: “you didn’t remind me of your deadlines yesterday? I finally had time yesterday but because you didn’t say anything I forgot”
After a few weeks I was fed up so just wrote a post-it with my deadlines and put it on his desk. He looked at it, grinned, then showed it to another male colleagued and both smirked before throwing it away. The female colleagues looked confused but didn’t say anything.
It’s my last week at that department, but I’d like to understand this situation for the future. I assumed it would be easier for both so I didn’t have to repeat it every day and he doesn’t have to rely on me for doing his job..
Comments
I’d guess it’s either a power play, weaponized incompetence, or a combination of the two.
I’m going to hell for this, but your mentor might be trying to turn you into his personal assistant just because he can. His reaction to the post-it makes zero sense, what man doesn’t love a good list? It’s clear power play… and it’s messed up.
I’m befuddled by his dismissal. How is this a sorta of weaponized incompetence, and what could I do to better communicate these deadlines without depending on verbal reminders?
I’d be asking his supervisor for clarification of the correct process as it seems there’s some kind of issue.
Could to ask him?
What a fuckin shit-filled douchenozzle.
Can you get a new mentor?!
It’s his job to keep track of your deadlines. I’d write the company and let them know what is going on. He’s creating a hostile environment. It’s not your job to do your manager’s job.
Like he is so incapable of setting fucking calendar reminders? Someone doesn’t wear big boy pants.
I would have been pissed if he threw that away in front of me.
My mouth would have flown open so fast with an “excuse me but you need daily reminders to do your tasks. Why would you throw away those deadlines?”
Do it in front of everyone. He wants to play stupid games he gets to win stupid prizes.
Maybe a dunce cap because he’s clearly a fucking loser who can’t handle the basics of a calendar notification.