Unidentified Information: October 2018

Sunday, October 14, 2018

When Appreciation Mail Goes Unacknowledged

Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote about a delivery manager's appreciation mail for my weekend work that my manager did not acknowledge all day, until he replied at the end of the day and copied the business unit head. I have rewritten it into advice on handling recognition at work.

After working weekends on a proposal, the offshore delivery manager sent an appreciation note to my manager and his onsite counterpart, and the onsite delivery manager also acknowledged my work. My manager usually forwards such notes to the whole team, but for most of the day he said nothing. At the end of the day he replied to both managers with thanks, copied the business unit head and his own manager, and forwarded the mail to my whole team. Looping in the unit head happens rarely, and it surprised me.

Why might a manager be slow to respond to appreciation?

Often for ordinary reasons: a busy day, or wanting to reply properly rather than quickly. In my case the delay turned out to be the opposite of what I feared, because the reply went to more senior people than usual. Silence for a few hours is rarely a message.

What should you do when someone appreciates your work?

Thank them directly: a short reply to the sender, copying your manager.
Save the mail: keep a folder of appreciation notes for your appraisal.
Mention it in your self-review: with the date and what the work was.
Credit others: if colleagues helped, say so in your reply.

How much does senior visibility matter?

A great deal in large organisations, where ratings are often calibrated in meetings your manager attends. A unit head who has seen your name on a positive mail is more likely to recognise it later. That is why managers choose carefully when to copy senior people.

What if your work is never acknowledged?

Ask your manager, calmly, how your work on specific bids was seen. If recognition never comes, keep your own record of outcomes and use it at appraisal time. Visibility can be built, but it rarely happens by accident.

Is weekend work worth it for recognition?

Occasionally, for a real deadline. As a habit, it tends to become expected rather than appreciated, so protect your weekends where you can.

Keep reading

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Chasing a Reviewer Who Keeps Promising 'One Hour'

Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote about sending a solution deck to a delivery expert who kept promising a review "within an hour" and then did not reply. I have rewritten it into a guide to chasing reviews without damaging the working relationship.

I had framed the solution from my understanding of the client's needs and my earlier experience, and sent it to the delivery expert. I expected a response the next day. There was nothing: no reply, no acknowledgement. When I called, she said she was busy and would come back within an hour with updates, and that everything would be closed by the end of the day. I did not yet know that those promises would not be kept and I would have to keep pushing.

Why do reviewers promise and then go quiet?

Because the promise is made to end the call. Delivery work usually has closer deadlines and louder escalations than a proposal, so the review keeps slipping. It is rarely personal, which is useful to remember when you follow up.

How do you chase a review effectively?

Make it small: list the three or four slides that need their input, not the whole deck.
Offer a slot: "Can we go through it for 15 minutes at 4pm?" is harder to postpone than an open request.
Confirm in writing: after the call, send a one-line mail with the agreed time.
State the consequence: "Without your review, the estimate goes as drafted" often gets a response.

When should you involve your manager?

When the delay threatens the submission. Share the timeline of requests and replies, and ask your manager to agree time with the reviewer's manager. Do it before the deadline, not after.

What can you do to reduce the risk next time?

Agree review dates at kick-off, and build in a buffer day before submission. If a particular reviewer is always late, send drafts earlier and in smaller pieces.

Is it acceptable to submit without the review?

Only if your manager agrees and the assumptions are clearly stated. A proposal with unreviewed estimates can create problems later in delivery, so record who approved the decision.