Richard, I'm sorry you're having to deal with this very frustrating situation. To clarify, first ask yourself, "Is he aware that he is answering one way and acting another (passive aggressiveness), or is he just not answering because this issue is not as important to him as it is to you (not a priority)?

Either reason requires that you make it in his best interest to provide you with the feedback you desire. Remember Dale Carnegie's admonition in his classic, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" (http://www.amazon.com) that "People do things for their reasons, not our reasons. So we must make our reasons, their reasons."

These reasons may include that as you perform better, he'll look better to his boss. Then, you'll want to ask him in a way that will evoke his commitment to providing that feedback. And, that you must do with tact.

You might lead with, "Mr. Supervisor, the least thing I want to do is to make your job more difficult. I respect you enough to really value your feedback, which is why I've been asking.

"I know when I've asked before, you've been nice enough to tell me you'll give it to me, but probably being extremely busy (here, you're letting him off the hook, taking away any potential defensiveness on his part), you haven't had the opportunity. If I may ask, is there another reason, aside from that one, that you haven't responded? If so, I certainly won't ask again. If you agree though, let's set an exact time for this feedback to take place. That will take the pressure off of you."

Now, although the way you've phrased this takes the pressure off of him for the moment and causes him to respond in the affirmative, it actually does anything BUT take the pressure off of him once he commits.

Now he has given his word to be accountable, and has something to lose (his credibility to you) if he does not come through. Best of success, Richard, and let me know what happens.

Bob Burg http:www.burg.com is author of Endless Referrals: Network Your Everyday Contacts Into Sales, Winning Without Intimidation and The Success Formula.

He has a full line of books, ebooks and CDs from which everyone can grow and prosper. Check them out by going to http:www.burg.com , then click on the link to his online store. Bob also publishes a free weekly ezine to which you can subscribe going to http://www.burg.com/newsletter.html.