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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Being bossed around by colleagues

97 replies

Bobski123 · 12/07/2023 06:29

It's happened to me a couple of times and I've realised I'm some sort of easy target, but I need to stop it happening. Would be interested in hearing any tips.
I'm a very non confrontational person and find it hard, but for instance yesterday it happened again, from somebody who isn't my superior, and I've been there for 2 years versus her 2 months.
She tried to do it again and I said in a non-threatening way 'That's ok, I know what to do, I've been here 2 years now haven't I?' to our client.
She just said 'ok'.
I try to do the same back, not in a rude way but I'll try to ask them to do things in the same way they're asking me.
It's not that they're simply asking me for help. It's stating obvious things as if I have no idea what to do or have never done them before.
Like we will arrive at client Xs house and she will say, "You can start to undress Mrs Smith."
Well obviously, that's the whole point of us being here.
Or, she will say to me "Did you make sure that Mr S had all his medication.?"
No, I thought I just wouldn't give him any tonight.
It's like every shift is your first.
I'm really not comfortable with bossing people around.
But I've figured it must be something in my personality or body language that gives off an easy target vibe. A lot of people seem to wish they were management when they aren't and think they can practice on colleagues.
It's making me want to move further and further away from people.
Would really appreciate any tips in this situation.

OP posts:
N0ëlle · 12/07/2023 17:58

This was me ten years ago when I got back in to the workplace. I have scapegoat energy I think, or at the very least, people pleaser energy.

I had a woman lose a file and then yell at me that she wasn't ''going down'' for it. If it happened to me now, I'd have laughed in her face. I hadn't lost her file. I think if that happened now with the ten years of experience I've had back in the workplace post kids, I'd say calmly, nobody's going down, it's a file, it's lost. If you ask nicely I'll be a second pair of eyes for you. I'll go in to the filing room and just keep you company while you look. But ten years ago, I got upset and cried, she was an even meaner wagon after that.

I've learned a few tricks over the years and things have got better. eg, if somebody who is not your boss orders you to do something NOW, just wander off to the toilet, bet they'll have done it by the time you get back. That way you don't have to say ''no''.

Because boundaries seem to be accepted from some people (they perceive to be higher status than they are themselves) but not others, (who they consider beneath them) so the very act of saying no can make them hate you Confused so treading carefully is important. You need them to gradually gradually realise that you're higher status than they had thought, without being conscious that their perception of you has changed.

GarlicGrace · 12/07/2023 18:03

Well, I default to sarcasm (There's a key to open the door? Wow!) but there is much better advice on this thread. Taking the lead yourself seems like the least confrontational option. It will get a bit wearing, because you'll have to think like she does only faster. The other good advice is to tell her calmly & clearly that you don't need advice on this, thanks.

Don't mix your approaches. Pick one and then, if it's not working after a couple of weeks, switch to another.

This is the best potted assertiveness guide I've ever seen (and I've seen plenty!)
https://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A2998551

h2g2 - Assertiveness and Assertiveness Training - Edited Entry

Assertiveness and Assertiveness Training, from the edited h2g2, the Unconventional Guide to Life, the Universe and Everything

https://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A2998551

Imisssleep2 · 12/07/2023 18:06

From the examples you have given the first I think your being over sensitive and the second is just checking it's been done, if neither of you done his medication you'd both be held responsible after all. If you feel your the more senior due to experience give the instructions from the off rather than just waiting for them to do it. In your job someone has to be more verbal to ensure all jobs get done rather than doing twice or neither of you doing it. Maybe even discuss it en route to the client?

Lelliekellie · 12/07/2023 18:21

I’m petty

so I’d be passive aggressive when not in earshot of clients. Until she got the message.

for example the door key thing. I’d be like “oh and here I was just about to kick it in haha”

Miajk · 12/07/2023 18:52

Bobski123 · 12/07/2023 06:58

Imagine getting to your office and a colleague tells you you need to turn your PC on? It just wouldn't happen.
She seems nice outside of that, but as I say I seem to be a target for it. I want to stop it happening as it does get to you and make you feel like you can't do your job when I know I can. I'm not useless or rubbish, nobody is perfect but I've had good feedback from management and never had any cause for concern.

If multiple people do this then you might be the issue, sorry!

Do you tend to forget things? Or maybe do you faff/do things slowly/aren't very proactive?

It it was one colleague I'd say they're just bossy but it sounds like multiple people feel the need to micromanage which makes me think it must be something.

snufkinhat · 12/07/2023 18:58

Bobski123 · 12/07/2023 06:45

I'm not insinuating I'm better. I'm not saying I'm perfect but I don't need to be instructed on every thing, it's just really not necessary. Imagine working in a pub and every time a customer orders a drink, the colleague tells you 'You need to go and pour him a pint now.'
It just wouldn't be tolerated.

But you're tolerating it.

Tell her to stop.

coxesorangepippin · 12/07/2023 19:06

I'd just stay silent

icelollycraving · 12/07/2023 19:10

I’m sure I answered pretty much the same thread last week 🤔

Lisapop1 · 12/07/2023 19:26

Bobski123 · 12/07/2023 06:36

I don't think I'm oversensitive, the medication one might not be the best example, but it's more like we'll get to someone's door and she'll say 'you need to take the key out of the key safe and open it.' well I'm not going to break the door down.
Or it'll just be things like 'You can go and do that now.' I don't need to be told, go and do anything.

I'd laugh and say "I know' and smirk.

WickedWitchOfTheEast87 · 12/07/2023 19:47

@Bobski123 I know how you feel its really irritating to have someone decide they'll manage you when they aren't even senior or management.

I'm going through similar with a colleague, she's 18 only started a few months ago and acts like she knows it all already I've been in my company for nearly 18 months but have almost 10 years experience in my role and this girl thinks she's the manager, she keeps bossing me about and slyly pushing boundaries but its difficult to call her out because its more the tone of voice than the words so if I did call her out I look like the petty cow.

I'm mostly dealing with it by ignoring her but what makes my blood boil is she tells me I've made mistakes when I haven't and actually tells me how to do my job (I handle the financial side and there's 2 of us in the office who do this job) and has tried to show me how to do it better and then makes mistakes because she has no f ing clue about the finances as that is not part of her job. I spend half my time biting my tongue and trying not to laugh at her when she does this as me and other colleague who handle the finances know full well she has no clue about it. In fact my colleague told her straight to stop interfering and leave it to us as its our job not hers but she still does it. We've realised she's doing it to show off how fantastic she is and that she's management material. This probably why your colleagues are doing it to you they want to prove themselves by managing someone.

I'd advise you to blatantly ignore them and carry on or just respond "no I can't do that I'm busy" or "I do know what I'm doing but when I need help I'll let you know" then carry on with your work.

CM1897 · 12/07/2023 20:11

Bobski123 · 12/07/2023 06:35

Because I'm trying to be more assertive.
It's not normal to constantly check I feel, however it's not just that, it's giving me orders as if I don't know what to do, and have never done it before. Like 'go and do that.'

Are you sure they’re not just asking so they don’t overdose the clients, in case they were going to give them their medicine too?

Daisybuttercup12345 · 12/07/2023 21:29

CM1897 · 12/07/2023 20:11

Are you sure they’re not just asking so they don’t overdose the clients, in case they were going to give them their medicine too?

Nobody would overdose the client if the MAR sheet has been completed.

Atethehalloweenchocs · 12/07/2023 21:41

What do you think would happen if you said 'I am wondering why you felt you needed to tell me that when I have been doing this job for 2 years now?'. You are saying you are non-confrontational so I would guess people are reading that as nervousness or lack of confidence in what you are doing as needing support and telling what to do.

Bobski123 · 12/07/2023 22:31

Sorry the the late reply. Thanks so much for giving me this all constructive feedback, just reading through it now.

OP posts:
DNLove · 12/07/2023 23:44

I think the situation with selecting the clients top was the perfect opportunity for you to be assertive. "X, the client has asked you specifically to pick any top, can you please follow her wishes and not delay us all".
You need you watch for those opportunities and use them to lead.
Also suggest that before entering the clients location you explain the plan to Co-worker. "we are going to client Y now, I will cover a, b & c. You look after d, e, f. If there are any other requests when we are there I will let you know what is to be done."
This way you are presenting yourself as a leader, showing confidence, giving them clarity and removing any need to make comments in front of client.

Johnnybegood2 · 13/07/2023 08:32

I'm confused.

This reads to me like the person you're working with is just trying to make a plan to get stuff done and checking up on important stuff. Surely if you're working together you must be expecting some sort of dialogue when you go into people's houses?

Maybe she vocalises it as like a checklist herself so she knows everything has been done and therfore the job had been completed properly. Always got to cover your own back.

Regardless of how long you've been there this sounds more like a clash of working methods rather than her trying to be dominant 🤷‍♀️

NorthernSarcasticandDownrightFantastic · 13/07/2023 19:58

Bobski123 · 12/07/2023 06:29

It's happened to me a couple of times and I've realised I'm some sort of easy target, but I need to stop it happening. Would be interested in hearing any tips.
I'm a very non confrontational person and find it hard, but for instance yesterday it happened again, from somebody who isn't my superior, and I've been there for 2 years versus her 2 months.
She tried to do it again and I said in a non-threatening way 'That's ok, I know what to do, I've been here 2 years now haven't I?' to our client.
She just said 'ok'.
I try to do the same back, not in a rude way but I'll try to ask them to do things in the same way they're asking me.
It's not that they're simply asking me for help. It's stating obvious things as if I have no idea what to do or have never done them before.
Like we will arrive at client Xs house and she will say, "You can start to undress Mrs Smith."
Well obviously, that's the whole point of us being here.
Or, she will say to me "Did you make sure that Mr S had all his medication.?"
No, I thought I just wouldn't give him any tonight.
It's like every shift is your first.
I'm really not comfortable with bossing people around.
But I've figured it must be something in my personality or body language that gives off an easy target vibe. A lot of people seem to wish they were management when they aren't and think they can practice on colleagues.
It's making me want to move further and further away from people.
Would really appreciate any tips in this situation.

Former home carer and then home care area manager here... you sound like you're not communicating well with your colleagues on shared calls, so they have to tell you what they need you to do/check what you're doing/have done as you're not being forthcoming with them.

GarlicGrace · 13/07/2023 21:58

I've been thinking about this, @Bobski123, in the context of Transactional Analysis which was mentioned in the article I linked above.

We all have life scripts, or core beliefs about ourselves. These can colour our interactions with other people. Once we notice what our 'scripts' and beliefs are, we can look at ways of changing any that seem to be a little too rigid, causing our interactions to go wrong in the same sort of way.

Hoping you're with me so far: you've said people 'always' seem to be bossing you around, and you think there 'must be' something about you that invites overbearing behaviour. This is clearly one of your life scripts: I'm always getting bossed around; and a core belief about yourself: I give off the air of a compliant subordinate.

Well done for making this post! It shows you've started thinking about this script, even if you didn't have the language to describe it at first, and it means you're on the way to changing what's unhelpful about it.

A Transactional Analyst would suggest that your colleague's got a script that goes something like: I always have to tell others what to do. She is in what TA calls Parent Mode. Perhaps, somewhere inside, she feels like the world will collapse if she ever fails to direct other people. Parents often have to direct children so they don't kill themselves or someone else: Don't eat the food in the bin; don't touch the knives; wait for me on the kerb, etc, etc. Some people get stuck in Parent Mode a lot of the time.

The reason these exchanges piss you off so much is that you're going into Child Mode. Like the kid who already knows to wait at the kerb, part of you might be going 'Stop giving me instructions! Look, I am waiting! Not fair.'

An actual child might get very stroppy at this point. You aren't that stuck in Child Mode, but something interesting's happening here. Every time a Parent triggers your Child, it's setting off a chain reaction with your core belief: Look, it's happening again! People are always telling me what to do! It's so unfair!

No surprise, this reinforces your core belief and so you keep playing out the same script.

OK, so what to do? There's a whole bunch of options. You could Parent back to the Parent (will cause arguments, even if you 'win' many of them). You could go full Child and either throw a strop or meekly submit. And there are several more Adult approaches, many of which have been suggested already.

What do you think?

Mugaloaf · 14/07/2023 07:09

I work with someone like this! They do it to everyone. I have been biting my tongue, but my patience has run dry. It feels petty and argumentive to say something... especially in a group situation, so I need to work on my response.

Some people always feel like they need to be in charge of everything, or feel like they know more than you about anything.

Daffodilwoman · 14/07/2023 07:25

I’d go full on sarcasm.
For example like has been suggested. You need to use the key to open the door.
‘Wow I would have never thought I’d that myself!’
Make sure you give X his meds.
’Really? I was thinking of not giving him his meds.’
You need to change the top X is wearing.
’No, I was going to leave him covered in his own stench and shit.’
All said in a very sarcastic voice.

iunderstandcompletely · 30/07/2024 18:32

Exactly! I'm triggered by my brother's girlfriend in exactly the same way when we deal with my elderly father. It does seem extremely petty to be annoyed when she says things like "open the door for your father" ... but clearly, I'm not going to let the man walk through a closed door, and the bossy self-righteous tone is like nails on a chalkboard. We might both be hypersensitive, but I totally get where you're coming from on this.

JabbaTheBeachHut · 30/07/2024 18:35

crimsonlake · 12/07/2023 07:23

This is at least the third time you have posted about this particular issue, if I recall you actually said you were leaving the company in two months?

I'm glad you said this because I thought I was going mad.

I even had to check the date!

I'm not sure what the OP thinks anyone else can say on the matter.

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