Undermining

[JustSayNoNoNo]

Someone who reports to me is undermining me. Any tips on confronting them? Things to say / not say?

log everything and report to higher managment

Thanks but I am hoping I don't have to involve higher management. Has anyone resolved this informally?

If they report to you, I agree you absolutely ought to be able to address this problem without involving higher management.

Speak to them about it as you would any other performance/conduct issue. Make sure you have exact examples of what you mean. Be clear that the behaviour is unacceptable and be clear exactly what behaviour you expect to see going forward. Make a full note of the conversation for the person's file.

Thanks flowery. You always have wise advice. Speaking about individual instances would, I felt, make me seem petty, but taken all together a distinct picture does emerge. Will monitor carefully from now on.

The trouble is raising a concern like this without giving specific examples will make you sound vague, and your concerns are more likely to be disregarded, dismissed as paranoia or similar.

If you want to raise concerns with a subordinate about their performance or behaviour, it's vital you give examples of what you are talking about. That doesn't mean listing every single occurrence, just example of the kind of behaviour you are referring to.

As you say, a picture emerges once you look at lots of individual occurrences, so it's the overall picture you raise as a concern, with specific examples to solidify what you are saying.

Best of luck.

Oh I feel your pain, I have one of these, potentially two, in my new team.

I file note virtually every interaction, it's exhausting.

One of them used to do my job but stepped down so is never happier than when she's criticising someone in authority.

Overall, you do get a big picture and it's definitely affected their appraisals.

I am in a similar situation. Carly- my person was covering my post for a bit too. Be careful when you confront and have examples as flowery says.
My person tried to blame me for harassing them, but that went no where. I can't stand working with them, it's exhausting.

I think PP have good advice. I had a situation similar and, like you, it was really niggling at me. Immediately after the next instance of undermining behaviour, I asked to see said member of staff briefly - said I'd be along to their office in a few minutes - and just addressed the issue head on.

I said I'd noticed a change in her behaviour and if there was something she wanted to discuss. She tried to look bewildered. I said "for example just now when you bla bla bla [recent example of behaviour]. I said that it was a concern to me if she was unhappy and that if she did have any issues that she had to raise them with me as it must be dealt with in an appropriate, professional way.

She acknowledged that she'd been grumbling about stuff but it wasn't directed at me. I said I'm glad. Please communicate with me in future and we can approach issues together.

I then reiterated that I wanted to keep it brief, and to have a think over our conversation and get back to me if needed and left the room. No issues since.

Do not tolerate or ignore - it will not go away and will possibly get worse and influence other staff!

soon that seems like sound advice. Thank you.