Under the Bus

Today I was thrown under the bus to my client by a director at my company. It wasn't right, it was unprofessional, but it happened.

The client is already not happy with me. Not because of anything I've done, but because of things they think I haven't done.

But the thing is, I have done them...and more. We are behind. We are lacking IT resources. I was not here when the committed to this project or the date. I was not the one who said we could implement a product we have never implemented before in 45 days (in most cases we have at least 3 months).

I have a list of IT things that HAVE to be done. They are not nice to haves, they are NEEDS.

But, I'm the one who looks bad to the client. Everyone internally knows what the problem is....not setting the client's expectations right and lack of IT resources. But, we can't tell the client that. So in the meantime, everyone insists on letting me look bad, even though I'm the one responsible for the client relationship. My boss told me today, "I could have put a veteran on this account and it still would have happened. You'll just have to get a few scars on this one and earn your stripes with the client"

What pisses me off is that it's my name that's out there on the line. The company screwed up before I even got here. I have BEGGED for an action plan of what we are doing to fix things and when they will be done....I've begged up to the top of my business unit. I don't even have that. So meanwhile, I have lost all credibility. It's not right.

And I was upset today when I heard what this director said to the client just to save face. And I'm upset that I still don't have an answer to give to the client and I continue to look like I'm not doing my job. But what I was pleased with and surpised of was how many people, when they heard what happened, came to check on me, tell me what a good job I was doing, what bull shit this is, how it happens all the time and that I need to just let it go because I'll get the relationship back. People asked if they needed to tell the execs what I'm doing (no, they don't, they already know). You would have thought we were in a school yard and they saw someone ready to fight me....they were ready to jump in.

So, it pleases me that in almost 6 months, that I've built some great relationships here and made some good friends...despite my feelings of the job itself.

I just don't know how long it's going to take and all I'm going to have to do to build my name back up with the client.