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other team stepping on our toes

7 replies

storminamooncup · 27/04/2023 07:11

I'm struggling with an issue in my department, and I'm not sure how to address it. My department comprises two teams, each with separate responsibilities, and I'm on Team 1 managed by Sam. Team 2 is managed by Jack, and they are responsible for dealing with external clients, while Team 1 handles specific types of enquiries. Although we have the same clients at times, we have clear remits.
The issue is that Team 2 has been trying to handle enquiries that are within Team 1's remit. We have told them several times that these enquiries should come to us, but they keep happening anyway. It's causing confusion and frustration for both teams and clients. We've also had a situation where a prospective client was annoyed because they were speaking to me and not Team 2. They had been led to believe that Team 2 would handle everything, even though their specific enquiry was within Team 1's remit.
To make matters worse, Jack has been sending me angry emails and requesting urgent meetings to discuss his team's feedback on what I do. My manager agrees with my point of view, but he wants to wait until he's spoken to the new departmental manager before we respond to Jack.
I'm not sure what to do going forward. The new departmental manager won't be available until next week, and the client is already angry. I work remotely, so we can't meet in person. How can I handle this situation without causing more problems?

OP posts:
AgnesGray · 27/04/2023 07:17

Do the other team also work remotely? Just wondering if they build relationships with their clients who then want continuity. But they should be making it clear that is not possible if it isn't what they do.

Are they doing a good job when they take over things in your remit? I don't know if that would be a good thing or a bad thing.

Maybe their workload is too light as well if they are able to take on extra work? Maybe you could ask that in a less direct way at any meetings.

Quveas · 27/04/2023 07:55

Hard to say - I think you have to wait until the two managers have spoken, and an extra week is frustrating, but you've had to live with it up to now so another few days won't make much difference. To be fair, it does sound like the clunkiest set up - having teams split in this way with different people dealing with clients for different things must be rather frustrating for everyone.

lljkk · 27/04/2023 08:09

Your manager has passed the buck, how flipping annoying.
I imagine replying to Jack politely ccing' your manager each and every time, put this on your manager's plate NOW.

storminamooncup · 27/04/2023 20:40

Both teams are remote. The clients are nationwide.
Our team was set up, because the other team were too busy / didn't have the qualifications or experience / organisation didn't have time/money to give all of them it. Cheaper to create a new time and recruit our team into the roles.
Jack emailed me again today with feedback. Jack is NOT my manager. Jack requested a meeting, again. I forwarded to my manager. Manager says he will email Jack. I don't know if he has as I have not been cc'd into anything.
I am super busy at the moment and can't be dealing with fuckwits who don't stay in their lane and have to be steered back into it repeatedly.

OP posts:
storminamooncup · 27/04/2023 20:41

ps if they do our work, they do it BAD.

OP posts:
Quveas · 27/04/2023 21:24

storminamooncup · 27/04/2023 20:40

Both teams are remote. The clients are nationwide.
Our team was set up, because the other team were too busy / didn't have the qualifications or experience / organisation didn't have time/money to give all of them it. Cheaper to create a new time and recruit our team into the roles.
Jack emailed me again today with feedback. Jack is NOT my manager. Jack requested a meeting, again. I forwarded to my manager. Manager says he will email Jack. I don't know if he has as I have not been cc'd into anything.
I am super busy at the moment and can't be dealing with fuckwits who don't stay in their lane and have to be steered back into it repeatedly.

Fine. There are other jobs. If you can't be dealing with fuckwits, get another one.

AlisonDonut · 27/04/2023 21:33

You need to keep passing it to your manager to resolve with the other manager.

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