Manipulator

[Jammylou]

Have you ever come across someone you line manage that to your face constantly praises you and your management skills then behind your back gossips about you and throws you under the bus with higher management (including telling lies).
I feel like it's an attempt to manipulate to their own end and control how I manage them.
Not sure how to manage them moving forward.

What have they said to senior management? Can’t you address that with them specifically? If I were you I’d start by thinking of the specific things that they are doing that make you feel they are being manipulative. I always think blunt, direct, honesty and openness is a good response to attempts at manipulation.

“eg I’ve heard you mention to senior management that I did XYZ. Can you explain more to me about your concerns so we can get to the bottom of them together”.

He told them I shouted at him when he did something wrong. This is a complete fabrication as I did speak to him firmly over failing to follow processes however there was absolutely no raising of voices and it was over a year ago so why not raise it at the time. In between times never mentioned it., cintinued to be nice to my face and tell me im a goid manager. He said after the said incident he avoided me and hid away in a desk away from me in the office again this is not true as he continued to sit in the place he always sat and had sat for a ling tine (we are in a sub office I manage). He sent me emails and messages to me saying how supportive i am as a manager (after the alleged incident) yet is highly critical behind my back.
He manipulates work so that he plagiarises other team members work then passes it off as his own, he gossips around the team about team members.
He likes to massively big himself up in terms of ability he'll say I'll do anything for the team in front of senior management then refuse to do certain work to me. He starts work early and completes tasks that need doing first thing so that other team members can't do those tasks but he only does part of it not all of it so he'll then say I'm doing all of the (task). I Have had several complaints off other team members but I have said I can't raise anything with him without evidence and it is hard to get.
I am now thinking I need to start documenting everything.

Yes. I have one of these and he has just cost me a major promotion. I am waiting to hear if he has got it. Fucker. Senior management think I am the problem rather than him, but he is the one of most devious bastards I've ever met and I'd wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't stop until I quit.