Message #56437

[raindance]

  As I see it, this situation is about power: control and ownership.   Your boss clearly sees himself as being in charge and doesn't want to delegate.  You have been tasked to do a particular job.  Work is not being done because bossie isn't delegating and can't or won't make decision.  If this situation continues then the reputation of your boss, you and your company will suffer because customers are simply not receiving a service.  And if they don't receive a service, they will go elsewhere.

It depends on what sort of relationship you have, think you have, or could have with your current boss.  

There are a few things you can do: nothing (always an option but not very satisfactory); find another job (possibly also not very satisfactory); tell someone (might not change the situation for the better); confront him.  I would confront him - don't make an appointment, just investigate his diary and go see him.  If he says he is "busy", then you should reply that this is urgent and won't take more than ten minutes.  That should focus both your mind and his.  That's your opportunity to say your piece, nicely but firmly, and to state that you can do X,Y,Z tasks up to a certain point (or entirely), you are not challenging his authority but genuinely wish to help him and progress the work of your department and that you are in this together - as a team ... and could you try it out for a couple of weeks.  If he doesn't agree, then he doesn't deserve your help and your way forward is any of the first three solutions proposed above.

Raindance