MTSkiBum 1,593 Posted July 16, 2018 There are some employees that think this is the appropriate way to contact me for every question. Many times I am busy and will need to take action on their request. So i ask them to email me so i do not forget. Still after a few years these same employees do not get the hint. Any tips for ways that I could nicely suggest to people to not message me as the first line of communication. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frozenbeernuts 1,652 Posted July 16, 2018 There are some employees that think this is the appropriate way to contact me for every questions. Many times I am busy and will need to take action on their request. So i ask them to email me so i do not forget. Still after a few years these same employees do not get the hint. Any tips for ways that I could nicely suggest to people to not message me as the first line of communication. Nicely? Say Hey dickwad, quit IMing me like I have asked you to do multiple times. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edjr 5,546 Posted July 16, 2018 you should stop lying about working in IT Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MDC 5,875 Posted July 16, 2018 Doesnt your IM automatically back up to Outlook? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gladiators 1,900 Posted July 16, 2018 There are some employees that think this is the appropriate way to contact me for every questions. Many times I am busy and will need to take action on their request. So i ask them to email me so i do not forget. Still after a few years these same employees do not get the hint. Any tips for ways that I could nicely suggest to people to not message me as the first line of communication. Whose head is on the line if their message gets ignored and nothing is done with it? Your or theirs? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wiffleball 4,631 Posted July 16, 2018 There are some employees that think this is the appropriate way to contact me for every questions. Many times I am busy and will need to take action on their request. So i ask them to email me so i do not forget. Still after a few years these same employees do not get the hint. Any tips for ways that I could nicely suggest to people to not message me as the first line of communication. Blame management. They got to be good for something. Tell them that they're really tracking your service request and that every email becomes a task that gets tracked. And ask them to resend via EM if they want to get priority. I was in the same boat before. The key is, when they do email you? Give them exceptional service the first couple times. And if they don't? You have to literally cut them off on the IM. It's really just about positive reinforcement. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nzoner 936 Posted July 16, 2018 Tell them to start a thread at FFT Geek Club 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
patweisers44 696 Posted July 16, 2018 A good chunk of my trading activity occurs via IM (part of an online trading platform) so I have a window open all the time. I could see how in a different job, that might be annoying though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MTSkiBum 1,593 Posted July 16, 2018 Whose head is on the line if their message gets ignored and nothing is done with it? Your or theirs? Not mine, many of these requests I could ignore completely none of my direct coworkers or anyone who is above me at the company would ever find out about it. However that is not my style. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MTSkiBum 1,593 Posted July 16, 2018 Tell them to start a thread at FFT Geek Club I just got back from lunch, and I have been busting my ass for the last couple weeks. I am burned out and am not working as hard today as I typically do. I do not want to see every thread at the top be political related, so I started a new thread. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gladiators 1,900 Posted July 16, 2018 Not mine, many of these requests I could ignore completely none of my direct coworkers or anyone who is above me at the company would ever find out about it. However that is not my style. Then just reply to their message and tell them you don't have time to help right now. You'd be happy to help later if they email their question to you. They'll eventually get it. Or they won't and you just start ignoring them. If you can't ignore them, then it's on you... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mobb_deep 917 Posted July 16, 2018 Not sure what platform you use, but we use Lync here. I just block people that annoy me or ask me dumb questions constantly. I work with a group of 5 other developers, so they just go bug them instead. IM'ing doesn't bother me as much as drive-byes though. I flat out ignore people that come to my desk unannounced haha. Just keep my headphones on and ignore them until they go away and email me. I've even told my boss that I went into IT because I don't like people and want to be left alone to code on my PC. I'd have been a pastor or something if I liked people. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nzoner 936 Posted July 16, 2018 I just got back from lunch, and I have been busting my ass for the last couple weeks. I am burned out and am not working as hard today as I typically do. I do not want to see every thread at the top be political related, so I started a new thread. Therein the point of my suggestion,if they can't do what you ask i.e. email have them start a thread here that way when you're here you won't miss anything and maybe just maybe they'll get the hint. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MTSkiBum 1,593 Posted July 16, 2018 Not sure what platform you use, but we use Lync here. I just block people that annoy me or ask me dumb questions constantly. I work with a group of 5 other developers, so they just go bug them instead. IM'ing doesn't bother me as much as drive-byes though. I flat out ignore people that come to my desk unannounced haha. Just keep my headphones on and ignore them until they go away and email me. I've even told my boss that I went into IT because I don't like people and want to be left alone to code on my PC. I'd have been a pastor or something if I liked people. We use Lync. Thankfully drivebys are not really an issue for me. Thankfully most of the people I deal with are in other offices or countries. Outside of my manager which I only see once or twice a week I do not work with anyone who physically works in the same office as me. If I did not have a nice office with a view and a short commute I would probably try to work from home more often. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frank 2,144 Posted July 16, 2018 Get them all to sign up here and you can have your own thread. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mobb_deep 917 Posted July 16, 2018 We use Lync. Thankfully drivebys are not really an issue for me. Thankfully most of the people I deal with are in other offices or countries. Outside of my manager which I only see once or twice a week I do not work with anyone who physically works in the same office as me. If I did not have a nice office with a view and a short commute I would probably try to work from home more often. Yah. It sounds a little tougher in your scenario, being a single point of contact for things. You can always put yourself in "do not disturb" mode. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MTSkiBum 1,593 Posted July 16, 2018 Yah. It sounds a little tougher in your scenario, being a single point of contact for things. You can always put yourself in "do not disturb" mode. I do that when I am busy. For the first time in a month or so I do not have any deadlines today and am just casually working through a backlog of minor issues and enhancements. I am the sole business analyst, programmer, and end user support for 5 different apps and I have one programmer help on a 6th (WPF) app. Most are asp.net with sql server backend. Most of the apps have between a 1000-3000 person user base. I realize why everyone was bugging me on Lync. To save time i rarely test and almost always deploy straight to production. Apparently I deployed a breaking change and the AR clerks could not do their job. They probably should get me more help so that there is time to test before deploying. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hardcore troubadour 12,576 Posted July 16, 2018 Not sure what platform you use, but we use Lync here. I just block people that annoy me or ask me dumb questions constantly. I work with a group of 5 other developers, so they just go bug them instead. IM'ing doesn't bother me as much as drive-byes though. I flat out ignore people that come to my desk unannounced haha. Just keep my headphones on and ignore them until they go away and email me. I've even told my boss that I went into IT because I don't like people and want to be left alone to code on my PC. I'd have been a pastor or something if I liked people. Lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mobb_deep 917 Posted July 16, 2018 I do that when I am busy. For the first time in a month or so I do not have any deadlines today and am just casually working through a backlog of minor issues and enhancements. I am the sole business analyst, programmer, and end user support for 5 different apps and I have one programmer help on a 6th (WPF) app. Most are asp.net with sql server backend. Most of the apps have between a 1000-3000 person user base. I realize why everyone was bugging me on Lync. To save time i rarely test and almost always deploy straight to production. Apparently I deployed a breaking change and the AR clerks could not do their job. They probably should get me more help so that there is time to test before deploying. Haha. Yah man. Or you could always do gated check-ins and automate your release pipe and testing to lower environments like a responsible programmer. Assuming you use TFS to manage your source and work item backlog, you just need a couple quick PowerShell scripts. I'm not sure how easy it is with Subversion or other offerings. I also do ASP.NET with SQL back-end, and have automated everything so much, I basically just babysit a couple injuns and groom the backlog all day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fandandy 3,311 Posted July 16, 2018 Send these concurrently. in your ass so deep until you call me Uncle Billy. Dammit Dave. I told you to use email. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MTSkiBum 1,593 Posted July 16, 2018 Haha. Yah man. Or you could always do gated check-ins and automate your release pipe and testing to lower environments like a responsible programmer. Assuming you use TFS to manage your source and work item backlog, you just need a couple quick PowerShell scripts. I'm not sure how easy it is with Subversion or other offerings. I also do ASP.NET with SQL back-end, and have automated everything so much, I basically just babysit a couple injuns and groom the backlog all day. You may have missed it where I am everything. I do end user support, training material, all programming changes, gathering all business requirements, deploying all database changes, deploying the asp.net changes to the web server, etc. Two of the apps are heavily integrated with an Oracle ERP system and a third app is integrated both with an Oracle ERP(Global outside of US) and SAP ERP(only in US). Before the layoffs there was a team of 6 people working on this, now just me. There are many shortcuts taken, one of which is that I rarely test code and I always deploy straight to production. Only a couple times in the last few years has this been a problem. The time savings outweighs the negatives. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frozenbeernuts 1,652 Posted July 16, 2018 You may have missed it where I am everything. I do end user support, training material, all programming changes, gathering all business requirements, deploying all database changes, deploying the asp.net changes to the web server, etc. Two of the apps are heavily integrated with an Oracle ERP system and a third app is integrated both with an Oracle ERP(Global outside of US) and SAP ERP(only in US). Before the layoffs there was a team of 6 people working on this, now just me. There are many shortcuts taken, one of which is that I rarely test code and I always deploy straight to production. Only a couple times in the last few years has this been a problem. The time savings outweighs the negatives. I thought you were an engineer. And it sounds like maybe they need to hire another person. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MTSkiBum 1,593 Posted July 16, 2018 I thought you were an engineer. And it sounds like maybe they need to hire another person. I was an engineer, but 4-5 years ago I was brought in from the field to work as a business analyst. They are the ones that provide the requirements of software to the programmers. However, that was boring so I taught myself how to program in the evenings and now I am in my current role as a programmer. Perfect description of a business analyst: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GuardBum 73 Posted July 16, 2018 Have mgm't buy in that that process is email or whatever ticketing console you use to track your workload. Then sure, if you have time on IM, help out who you want/can but you can also safely ignore or forget to help those that ignore the process. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KSB2424 3,082 Posted July 16, 2018 We have icons that say Available Busy Do Not Disturb Away from Desk etc. I use those. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
12th Man 884 Posted July 16, 2018 Not sure what platform you use, but we use Lync here. I just block people that annoy me or ask me dumb questions constantly. I work with a group of 5 other developers, so they just go bug them instead. IM'ing doesn't bother me as much as drive-byes though. I flat out ignore people that come to my desk unannounced haha. Just keep my headphones on and ignore them until they go away and email me. I've even told my boss that I went into IT because I don't like people and want to be left alone to code on my PC. I'd have been a pastor or something if I liked people. What a loser. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Strike 3,941 Posted July 16, 2018 We have icons that say Available Busy Do Not Disturb Away from Desk etc. I use those. So do we. Most people here just ignore them. When I'm really busy I put myself in to "do not disturb" status which suppresses IM's. But that's the only one that has any effect around here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerryskids 5,165 Posted July 16, 2018 I was an engineer, but 4-5 years ago I was brought in from the field to work as a business analyst. They are the ones that provide the requirements of software to the programmers. However, that was boring so I taught myself how to program in the evenings and now I am in my current role as a programmer. Perfect description of a business analyst: Except I just showed it to my wife who is a BA and she didn't find it funny. Also I just don't log into our IM which is Cisco Jabber. Being in sales I can just give anyone a look since there is no expectation on me having any technical skills whatsoever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites