I am a senior manager in adult social care. There are two other senior managers at my level but we have different roles, though all within adult social care. It’s in a very small service compared to some - I manage 4 members of staff but within this there are 4 distinct services (for example - elderly care homes is one).
One of the other senior managers is a nightmare. I get on well with most people and when I don’t, I am of course able to be professional and hide any personal feelings. As a leader / manager I feel this is critical.
I am really struggling with this manager because they are so difficult to work with. Every meeting becomes contentious, they come with a set view about a situation and don’t listen to other people’s views, they are patronising. I could go on and on.
I personally cannot stand them. But I need to be professional and my job is incredibly important to me.
I avoid them as much as I can but do sit in the same office. It has had such an impact on my happiness at work but I’ve been trying hard to just get on with my job.
However, I am aware that other members of staff feel the same as I do. Worse in fact, and social care workers within the service are reporting that they are desperately unhappy. To the extent that people are leaving and those who aren’t leaving are looking for other jobs. We already have significant staffing issues so this is incredibly worrying.
The people leaving are not in my service - but it has an impact of course.
A big problem is she appears very friendly with our boss. They worked together in the past and they talk about our boss as if they are friends.
I genuinely don’t know what to do?