Promoted.. already have issue with one colleague

[1982mommaof4]

I have worked for the company the same amount of time as my colleague. We have worked on the same projects in the past, there have been a few communication issues. Fast forward we have both applied for a promotion and I got the position.

It is clear my colleague is unhappy, I have been in the role for a week and they are already being challenging.

I'm looking for tips on how to manage this as sensitively as possible!

Great thank you

Schedule meetings for when the majority of your team are available - there's a scheduling tool on Outlook that will suggest times based on the attendee list. Record the meeting for anyone who misses it or if attendance is critical, ask them to reschedule any clashing events. You're just wasting time by asking people in advance when they want the meeting to be.

For one-to-ones, if they can't attend, set the expectation that they will look at your diary and use 'propose new time' to find another slot.

She sounds bitter. Presumably both of you worked hard for the promotion, but only one of you got it. Tough luck, I'm afraid.

Top tip: stop asking about when is best to meet; just put time in everybody's diary. For monthly reports, have a set day, for example fourth Thursday of the month when you expect things to be done by. Recurring meetings, so there's no ambiguity.

You're more senior now so you have to call the shots.

Exactly ^

Thank you all great tips! My manager is brilliant so I will also lead by example. She is exactly what you are all describing. I have the upmost respect for her and feel safe to speak with her.

You need to learn to assert yourself more. Don’t ask your team what days they can do for meetings, send meeting invitations and be done with it.

Do you also have 1:1s with your manager as well? Put those in every couple of weeks as well, as it gives you time to talk through work as well as your own career progression. Ask for help when you need it, too, as she can guide you.

Sorry if that sounds blindingly obvious but lots of people don't do it!

@fingerguns no I appreciate the advice. She has set weekly meetings for the next two months which I think will be helpful to keep me on track.

I left it a few dates and sent out an invite for that agreed date, she responded to say that she had not agreed the date. I asked which date would suit her and we can look at changing, her response was I will let you know in due course ( two days ago) 😵‍💫

What was her explanation for not “agreeing” to that date? Does she have a clash or pre-booked annual leave, or a deadline where she needs the time? If she’s just said “I didn’t agree to that date”, you need to tell her that you gave her and everyone the opportunity to let you know if there were any issues with that date and, as she didn’t, you took that to mean she could make it.

If (or more likely when) she doesn’t get back to you, chase and say “I really do need to get this date in the diary. If the original date I proposed is genuinely unsuitable for some reason, please confirm, but otherwise I can only go so far to accommodate individual preference”.

She testing you

I manage a large team. There is no way I would pander to this. Tell her that date works for the majority and so it's planned for that date. Stop asking her what suits her if she can't give a mature response.