Aggressive junior manager
Discussion
There is a programming team leader in our office who I shall call Sara. Dealing with anyone at her level or above she is fine, but with her subordinates, or anyone at her subordinates level, she is horrendous.
Typical case. A subordinate (but actually just as experienced/knowledgeable as Sara) programmer was asked to investigate a reported error. He checked the log, saw which routine was causing the issue, then checked the source. The routine didn't exist in the std source so he correctly deduced that this client had their own version. In short he handled it perfectly competently. Then he made his mistake by asking 'Sara, do you happen to know where XYZ's source is?'
Instead of answering, Sara first asked why he wanted to know, then when he mentioned it was a support call she glared at him as if he'd crawled out from under a stone and yelled 'didn't you even have the sense to look at the log?' (He had actually printed the entire log out and was holding it in his hand at the time).
Another trick of hers when asked a question is to ignore the content of the question but look at whatever is on the poor sod's screen (which if course tends to be work in progress). Even if the one thing missing is the very thing he asked how she wants done, Sara gasps in horror then explodes with 'But that's wrong isn't it, you haven't done etc etc'.
Not only is this totally unreasonable on her staff it reduces productivity because people avoid speaking to her.
Presumably her manager used to behave like this so she assumes it's correct, but could there be another reason? Is it best to gently suggest she changes her approach or point out that this really is unacceptable behaviour?
Typical case. A subordinate (but actually just as experienced/knowledgeable as Sara) programmer was asked to investigate a reported error. He checked the log, saw which routine was causing the issue, then checked the source. The routine didn't exist in the std source so he correctly deduced that this client had their own version. In short he handled it perfectly competently. Then he made his mistake by asking 'Sara, do you happen to know where XYZ's source is?'
Instead of answering, Sara first asked why he wanted to know, then when he mentioned it was a support call she glared at him as if he'd crawled out from under a stone and yelled 'didn't you even have the sense to look at the log?' (He had actually printed the entire log out and was holding it in his hand at the time).
Another trick of hers when asked a question is to ignore the content of the question but look at whatever is on the poor sod's screen (which if course tends to be work in progress). Even if the one thing missing is the very thing he asked how she wants done, Sara gasps in horror then explodes with 'But that's wrong isn't it, you haven't done etc etc'.
Not only is this totally unreasonable on her staff it reduces productivity because people avoid speaking to her.
Presumably her manager used to behave like this so she assumes it's correct, but could there be another reason? Is it best to gently suggest she changes her approach or point out that this really is unacceptable behaviour?
Doesn't sound like a manager, just a team leader. How long has she been in the role? She may be having trouble letting go and trusting her team to do the work, particularly if she's only been in the role for 6-12 months... If she's been doing it for a few years she's just one of those unfortunates who aren't well suited to the job for one reason or another. Suffer her, or move - those would be the options in this case, unless she's hopeless enough to be shown the door at some point.
The way to handle her is probably to provide her with all the info on what has been done before asking the related question, so she has context.
The way to handle her is probably to provide her with all the info on what has been done before asking the related question, so she has context.
Edited by DanL on Tuesday 31st December 20:53
DanL said:
Doesn't sound like a manager, just a team leader. How long has she been in the role? She may be having trouble letting go and trusting her team to do the work, particularly if she's only been in the role for 6-12 months...
She's been doing the job for nearly 2 years but yes, insecurity is no doubt part of the reason she micromanages. But it's the ranting aggression that's the main problem. I can't believe her line manager hasn't noticed but I will speak to him when he's back after new year.I would document or possibly record one instance of the objectional behaviour and take her through it, identifying what is wrong and how it might have been handled properly.
There is every chance she will not have a clue what you are complaining about and so may be unable to address it. Describing her behaviour without a recording to show her might differ with her recollection.
There is every chance she will not have a clue what you are complaining about and so may be unable to address it. Describing her behaviour without a recording to show her might differ with her recollection.
I've had a few managers like this in the past. On the most part I've kind of dealt with it by joking along.
"put the shotgun down I'm only the messenger"
or
"this will send you nuclear when you hear what's happened"
There has been one I can think of that no amount of joking and or doing things her way could help. I ended up leaving.
"put the shotgun down I'm only the messenger"
or
"this will send you nuclear when you hear what's happened"
There has been one I can think of that no amount of joking and or doing things her way could help. I ended up leaving.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I had this at an old place I used to work. Running massively late for a meeting and the office b
h started ranting at me about a report I hadn't emailed to her. I completely lost my rag and shoved my laptop on to her desk with the email open from my sent items with said report, something she was famous for doing to others. On my way back into the office, I got called in to a meeting with my manager, the stupid bh and some dragon from HR (all women) as apparently I had really upset this girl. I pointed out that I was merely mirroring the behaviour she had displayed for the past 2 years I'd worked there and I was fed up getting spoken to like I was a piece of st from an employee who was actually junior to me, which didn't go down too well. BrabusMog said:
I had this at an old place I used to work. Running massively late for a meeting and the office bh started ranting at me about a report I hadn't emailed to her. I completely lost my rag and shoved my laptop on to her desk with the email open from my sent items with said report, something she was famous for doing to others. On my way back into the office, I got called in to a meeting with my manager, the stupid bh and some dragon from HR (all women) as apparently I had really upset this girl. I pointed out that I was merely mirroring the behaviour she had displayed for the past 2 years I'd worked there and I was fed up getting spoken to like I was a piece of st from an employee who was actually junior to me, which didn't go down too well.
Sounds like she knew how to play the system.h started ranting at me about a report I hadn't emailed to her. I completely lost my rag and shoved my laptop on to her desk with the email open from my sent items with said report, something she was famous for doing to others. On my way back into the office, I got called in to a meeting with my manager, the stupid bh and some dragon from HR (all women) as apparently I had really upset this girl. I pointed out that I was merely mirroring the behaviour she had displayed for the past 2 years I'd worked there and I was fed up getting spoken to like I was a piece of st from an employee who was actually junior to me, which didn't go down too well. My advise is that if you wish to play, 1st learn the rules of the game!
Oh yeah, she totally played me and also made up allegations from others in the office with regards to my aggressive nature but these were very quickly retracted when I asked that I be investigated if I was such an ogre that nobody could work with. She eventually came unstuck, just before I left, so that was quite satisfying.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff