My company just established a new procedure requiring sales people to get real labor quotes before closing a sale (they were “guessing” prior to this, a real mess). Once the customer approves, the projects get to my team (project management/operations), and we handle it from there.
Yesterday, 2pm I got an email from a sales woman saying essentially “are you going to manage this random-not-a-project-yet?? I need you to reach out and get me labor quotes for this product, bla bla, in Florida, asap, thanks”.
I am usually not quick to rage but man, my blood instantly boiled… I may be the youngest and newest PM, but I don't work for you. The new rule is supposed to make you responsible for the crap you sell, and it is meant to reduce our (ops) workload.
The thing is, she is very senior in the company so I was conflicted on what to say without burning bridges… until I realized I didn't have to say much. I forwarded her email to the entire operations department, which includes my actual boss (a VP), without a word. For the next hour I ignored the sales woman's calls and emails, including one saying “I didn't tell you to send to ops”. By the time I “returned” to my desk, a coworker in ops (who knew what happened) had sent her the contact info for a company so she could get the quotes herself.
What I got from this:
1) Don't let anyone try to make you their btch
2) You can really tell people to go fck themselves without saying a word
3) I have awesome coworkers
I am proud of myself and yet still raging. What are your stories?