For preferring to fight my own battles?

[FugglersAreMyFave]

'fight my own battles' is a bit strong but I feel unable to communicate effectively at work.

Been with the company almost a year, working as part of a business support team were we support approx. 25 fee earners and liaise with hundreds of clients.

My gripe is that if/when we encounter someone (colleague or client) being rude/difficult, etc. we've been told to inform our Line Manager who will deal with it. By 'deal with it' they mean speak to the person about their behaviour/attitude. Don't get me wrong, it's great to feel supported, but I'm also frustrated that I'm unable to manage these situations myself. I'm a woman in my 40's with a wealth of experience, a professional manner and the confidence to handle things on my own, yet I feel I'm being treated like a school leaver who isn't trusted to manage conflict appropriately.

Just to note, it's not just me this applies to, it's the whole team.

AIBU to be irritated by this?

Isn’t it up to you to define difficult and to transfer the time wasters on?

With your experience, surely you can manage it yourself by ensuring that when you can see it might develop into someone being rude or difficult you can defuse it before it happens? That's the ideal in managing conflict - heading it off. You do still have some agency here.

I have worked places where this wasn't in place.

It's not fun to handle difficult people if there's no one to hand them off to.

I always considered it a waste of my time. I'd rather handle the 95% that are reasonable.

The other ones are rarely worth the time they waste