Direct report going above me

[Beansprout30]

Hi can any offer any tips or advice on how to deal with a direct report that is going above me as her line manager when she has an issue? It seems like she’s takes great pleasure in letting me know she’s already discussed things with my line manager, (Acting Headteacher, I’m a school business manager)

im feeling totally undermined but it doesn’t help that the Head is not batting her back to me. I’m quite new to managing people but If I’m not getting support from above how am I supposed to effectively line manage this person?

Have you spoken to the head?

I’m going to speak with her tomorrow and ask her to ensure any queries relating to my staff , she sends onto me.

I've had this with one of my reports recently. I spoke to my manager about it and asked him not to facilitate it and direct them back to me.

Before I spoke to him about it he hadn't really thought about it and didn't realise the impact, so don't assume your boss is complicit.

Also have a chat with the staff member, remind them of the protocol and then follow it up on writing after: "as per our conversation earlier...."

And make sure everyone understand - your boss included - that things aren't set in stone just because your staff member tries to trump you on a particular issue with a "your boss says....". Check what was said with your boss and that it was based on the actual facts.

If you get on with your boss tell them to reply to any such emails by copying you in and saying that you'll deal as line manager.

And speak to your direct report asking them to send everything to you in the first instance.

Hmm this depends on the issue to be honest. Schools are a bit different in how they work with line management. Is the person an administrative assistant in your office?

"queries relating to my staff" makes it sound like the person belongs to you, they don't!

Is this your first school role?

I'd take the win that you hadn't had to sort whatever their issue was and get on with your work!

No it’s not my first role in a school, yes she’s admin and part of my role
is to line manage her and a few others and run the office. There are some things I’ve let go but I feel the admin lady is trying to push me in terms of making a point that she can go above me and get what she wants.

The issue was her whatspping me yesterday over something that has been arranged between her and the head (which I’ve not been included in any discussion about) and she was asking me to cover her duties, suggesting that I change my hours that day to do it! Just getting a bit above her station because she’s going via the Head and trying to get one over on me.