Dealing with a Difficult Director: My Vent and Frustrations as a Consultant

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Discussion Overview

This thread features participants sharing their frustrations and experiences dealing with difficult directors within the Pampered Chef community. Many express feelings of being unsupported and undervalued, while others relate similar experiences with their own directors.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, expresses frustration over their director's lack of communication and support, particularly regarding sales expectations and team dynamics.
  • Another participant shares their experience of feeling belittled by their director, who fails to provide positive feedback and instead focuses on criticism.
  • Several users mention that they have taken on responsibilities that should be shared among the team, feeling that they are unfairly carrying the weight of team sales.
  • One participant notes that their director has not been actively involved in team support for over a year, leading to feelings of isolation among team members.
  • Another participant recounts a similar experience with a previous director who was disengaged and unhelpful, suggesting that such situations can persist for years.
  • Some participants discuss the importance of seeking support from their Executive Directors (NEDs) and the potential for better mentorship from them.
  • One participant highlights the camaraderie among "sister" directors, emphasizing the support they provide to each other despite not being in the same direct line.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ among participants regarding how to handle their directors, with some advocating for direct communication with NEDs, while others suggest ignoring their directors altogether. No clear consensus emerges on the best approach to these challenges.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences related to their directors' management styles and the impact on their own business practices. The discussions reflect a range of emotions, including frustration, disappointment, and a desire for better support.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants experiencing similar challenges with their directors may find resonance in these shared experiences and perspectives.

  • Thread starter
  • #31
jwpamp said:
When will she drop off as your Director? Sounds like she needs to go...sounds like YOU are the one keeping her there with your sales and recruiting!

Hang in there, Colleen!


I'm not sure... the last time we actually spoke was when she was on the verge of dropping off so I'm wondering if that's why she's calling this time. Still no call back from her...

I'll keep everyone posted! ;)
 
Did you mention this to Chris? What does she say you should do?
 
  • Thread starter
  • #33
I haven't talked to Chris about it. My director situation is a bit taboo... she says (very parentally) that we should work it out between us when I've talked to her about it in the past.
 
Sounds like something Chris would say! LOL
 
  • Thread starter
  • #35
UpdateGot an e-mail from my NED this morning that my director "retired" in Feb and now her team is now my NED's first line....

It's funny...I thought I would feel something when this finally happened... wasn't sure if I would feel happy or sad, but honestly, I don't feel anything. Maybe because I'm still in bed and tired!

But the good news is that I signed yesterday's host! I'm on some kind of roll... I've signed three from my last three shows!!!!
 
finley1991 said:
Got an e-mail from my NED this morning that my director "retired" in Feb and now her team is now my NED's first line....

It's funny...I thought I would feel something when this finally happened... wasn't sure if I would feel happy or sad, but honestly, I don't feel anything. Maybe because I'm still in bed and tired!

But the good news is that I signed yesterday's host! I'm on some kind of roll... I've signed three from my last three shows!!!!

Way to go with all that recruiting!! Regarding your director, at least you don't have to wonder anymore when "it" will happen!! Keep on plugging along! You're doing AWESOMe!!:D
 
finley1991 said:
Got an e-mail from my NED this morning that my director "retired" in Feb and now her team is now my NED's first line....

It's funny...I thought I would feel something when this finally happened... wasn't sure if I would feel happy or sad, but honestly, I don't feel anything. Maybe because I'm still in bed and tired!

But the good news is that I signed yesterday's host! I'm on some kind of roll... I've signed three from my last three shows!!!!

WOO HOO!! Congrats on the recruiting!

I know what you mean. My director resigned directorship (I guess she's still going to consult) at the end of January. I was so disappointed in the lack of support for the last few years that I thought I'd be so glad to be under my ED but didn't feel any particular way (well except upset that my director didn't bother to TELL me). But now! My ED is giving me tons of help that I never had before! I just LOVE being in her first line!! - I know you love your NED too!

I wonder how long it will take for the names on my checks to change? Mid-month still showed the retired director. I know that isn't important but I like things neat and in order - maybe why I am so frustrated with my office and feel frozen - can't get things moving in my business right now.
 
Yay Colleen!!!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #39
bethcooks4u said:
!

I wonder how long it will take for the names on my checks to change? Mid-month still showed the retired director.

I wondered that too... so we will see. Someone here (sorry... I don't remember who...I think it might have been Becky) said that it will still say her name if she was your director in that month... so for example, if my director lost her status as of March 1st, she was still my director in Feb so on my Feb commission statement (that we get March 8th), it will still say her name.

My guess is she lost it from lack of 1st line. Doesn't matter though...
 
HOORAY for you! Way to hang in there Colleen! Good things come to those who wait and now that you are working with your NED, things seem to be going great for you!

Lisa
 
Yeah! When my up-line Director retired, I just felt closure on a bad situation. And relief that her First line weren't getting brushed off anymore. I am excited for you and your Team!
 
To all of you- with absent or unsupportive directors out there. Yes you have it harder then the rest of us- but don't ever let someone else determine your level of success!
Kudos to all of you who are succeeding inspite of that!
 
Colleen~ You are on a ROLL!!:money:Great Job!! I signed my last host too and I was estatic so I can't imagine how you feel with 3!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!


When my director resigned, it took almost a month or two (can't remember since it was right after I started 3 years ago) for her name to be gone. It was sad b/c I really like her.
 
Colleen, I know 2 WONDERFUL consultants who who love to have a 3rd roommate at conference. What wave are you going? They are in wave 2.

I hate that your director is doing that to you. And spending $400 of her own money to make the $4000? What? That is soooooo much to spend. Hang in there. I agree with Beth, I would just respond to the positive emails. YOU are doing awesome!

:)

I know I am constantly doing at least half of my teams sales, I would treasure another consultant on my "team" (you guys are a team - she needs to wake up to that fact) like you!

Susan :)


finley1991 said:
Okay... so this is a vent that I just need to get off my chest. I posted the other day how frustrated I was that my director called me on the 30th to let me know that she would be entering the repromotin cycle yesterday unless the TEAM got the $4000 in and losing me as her only director. I was already frustrated enough that she waited until the 11th hour to contact us. Even if she had called everyone with a week's notice, maybe the team would have been able to rally. She ended up putting in a $400 order of her own to make the $4k.

Where I am frustrated is that when she called, I told her that I was submitting about $2500 for the month with my last show going in on Friday afternoon. I gave her the exact amount my monthly sales would be. In the discussion, I find out that I personally have been carrying her team sales for all of 2007. Due to a personal issue, I didn't do much in June or July and was in reliquishment myself but knew my team and I would be able to do the $4k in August... and my team did the $4k without my sales! But basically it was my fault that she was losing her directorship because of my crappy sales in June & July... ummm... what about everyone else on the team working?

So I submit the show and wake up to a flaming e-mail from her because she checked the IPT at 7am yesterday and my sales weren't showing up. Ironically, the e-mail i got right after hers was from HO saying that the show I submitted had already shipped (woo-hoo on the fast shipping!). Anyway, I checked the IPT and it was there so I didn't respond.

Basically, my director has not been a director to anyone on our team in over a year. She had planned to go to NC with me and share a room but called me 5 days before we were leaving saying she wasn't going so I was stuck with the $600 bill myself. I admit it was great to have a room to myself but really couldn't afford it but had to suck it up anyway.

When my business started to grow and my sales were great and my team was growing, she constantly put me down, told me I was doing a crappy job with my team, everything she could think of to shake my confidence. She basically doesn't like anyone doing better than her. She earned a trip ONCE (the last time PC went to London... what? 12 years ago?) and earned TPC once in sales. But she always says that she can teach me how to earn those things. Even at conference when people get up to talk about their successes, she'll say, "She's not that good... she doesn't know what she's talking about..."

I was really looking forward to being in my NED's first line. My NED has been coaching me weekly and my business is in a better place than it's ever been. I feel my NED deserves my overrides because she is actually doing her job!

Consulants on my director's team call me because they don't ever hear from her. I don't mind helping them but honestly, that e-mail yesterday was hte last straw for me! I'm working my tail off only to get scolded by her because she is losing her status because she didn't work, not because I didn't work.

Okay... I'm done writing. I guess I don't know what I need to hear to help me feel better but any words would help right now. Thanks for reading!
 
ChefLisa said:
Oh Colleen!

They are so right about you not needing her.

The only thing I recommend is sending her and email thanking her for the offer for the coaching, but letting her know that you are receiving everything you need from your NED.

This is not to throw it in her face, but to let her know you are getting what you need. If you don't contact her, she may indeed contact you again and I know you just don't need that.

I agree!!!! I would tell her you no longer need her for coaching. If she would like you to coach her on how to treat her downline she is welcome to email you. :) <just kidding on the last part>. I would just close ties and be done with her!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #46
Thanks Susan! The original post that you quoted was from last Sept so I am all set for Conference roommates this year... thanks for looking out for me!The saga ended March 1st when she officially relinquished her directorship and I rolled up to her director, who thankfully, I already had a good relationship with! Business has never been better for me!!! And I think a lot of it has to do with being out from under her bad karma! ;)
 
finley1991 said:
Thanks Susan!

The original post that you quoted was from last Sept so I am all set for Conference roommates this year... thanks for looking out for me!

The saga ended March 1st when she officially relinquished her directorship and I rolled up to her director, who thankfully, I already had a good relationship with! Business has never been better for me!!! And I think a lot of it has to do with being out from under her bad karma! ;)

Yeaaaaa! I noticed that after I read through. Just felt so bad for you!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #48
its_me_susan said:
Yeaaaaa! I noticed that after I read through. Just felt so bad for you!

Thanks! I feel like I've be paroled! :)
 

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