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Colleague taking over my job

8 replies

Monkeybusiness77 · 16/06/2024 12:19

I have been in my current office role about 2.5 years. About 6 months ago, a new colleague started in a different team but same department. She is the same level of seniority as myself, but whilst her role has some overlaps in terms of specialty/expertise area with my role, it's a substantially different role in a different team, with a different line manager. She does however have a reputation- both externally and internally- as being extremely good and knowledgeable at this specialty/expertise area that is primarily the focus of my role (an area which only overlaps somewhat with her current role), and this is mainly due to her previous roles in which she did work in what is now my area.

She is also very proactive and enthusiastic and wants to help out in my specialty/expertise area and as mentioned would be very capable to do so due to the vast amount of knowledge and experience she has in this. I should add- I also have knowledge and experience in my area, but she has an external reputation I simply can't top (imagine hypothetically if your area was energy security and the new starter is the former energy security minister).

On a personal level, she is a great colleague to be around and work with. All good so far. The problem is that due to her willingness and exceptional reputation she is starting to get more direct invites to work in my specialty/expertise area and sometimes not along side me, but instead of me. This makes me feel excluded from my own role and like I'm being surreptitiously replaced. She has also been offering internal training in my specialty/expertise area, at first just to her own team, but the target audience for this has been gradually expanding.

So she is doing all this in an area that is not what her main role is about and I think it's because she is also so very competent in her actual role, that she does it really quickly and efficiently so has time (and interest) to take on more/something more challenging. Her line manager knows and approves.

Do you have any advice on how I could broach this at work either with her, my manager, her manager, others at work, without coming across as a jealous insecure mess? I'm trying very hard not to appear to be competing with her or bothered by her taking over my work. I just want to still be able to do my role without feeling that my knowledge and experience in my area is undermined. I don't want to lose 'clients' as it were because an increasing number of colleagues are recommending going to her for this area, instead of me, even though technically this is my area and not hers.

OP posts:
StamppotAndGravy · 16/06/2024 12:34

Your not going to have any luck stopping her doing what she's good at because a) it's mean and b) it would make no business sense. All you can do is raise your profile to make sure everyone knows you're good too, and better, start looking for a new niche which is slightly further away from hers and gradually shift your role into that niche.

WindowViper · 16/06/2024 13:07

I’m afraid I agree with PP.

If colleagues are going to get not you, it’s because they value her more (sorry!). It might only be because of her reputation…. But her reputation is important, especially if they’re selling externally.

Here are your choices:

  1. up your game and do some internal promotion;
  2. move sideways into a new niche you can own;
  3. wait for her to move on. Often people like that want to be a shiner new thing so don’t last
  4. move yourself.
ASighMadeOfStone · 16/06/2024 13:09

Agree with above.
She's getting to do stuff because she's good at it.
If you want to improve, then do further training, CPD etc.

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 16/06/2024 13:13

ASighMadeOfStone · 16/06/2024 13:09

Agree with above.
She's getting to do stuff because she's good at it.
If you want to improve, then do further training, CPD etc.

Exactly that.
Up your game.
I guess you was like that when you got promoted etc as many people are.
I was when I got my first job in an ideal workplace. I tried to impress everyone and learn a lot more than my remit
If you trust your manager, possibly have an off-the-record chat for advise/guidance etc and still up your game!!

Cerialkiller · 16/06/2024 13:13

If she is suddenly being the primary contact for work which should be going to you then I think you have reason to complain (gently) to your line manager. Could there be a complaint of constructive dismissal if your work gets reduced to the point that your role is redundant as your work has been given elsewhere?

SirChenjins · 16/06/2024 13:25

If your manager is supportive and approachable then I think you need to have a word with them to let them know what’s happening and agree the way forward. This isn’t simply a case of upping your game - it sounds like the experience and reputation she has in this area is beyond what you would have even after some CPD and would probably take you quite a while, if indeed you could get there in your current role, to get to her level. It obviously makes business sense for this work to come to her before you, but you need to understand where this leaves you, otherwise it does sound like it could come under constructive dismissal if a plan for you isn’t put in place.

Monkeybusiness77 · 16/06/2024 17:45

Hi thanks everyone, yes, people I've worked with know I'm good too and there is enough work for both of us-or even more people- to do. So in a way I can carry on with my work regardless of her reputation, but as this is still a relatively new role, I feel like I should be establishing myself and getting new 'clients' to see me as the lead for this area. It hasn't helped my case that recently another senior colleague introduced her as having an excellent reputation and being willing to help whereas she noted I was just someone else in this area.

I was actually thinking of having a chat with her to kindly request she keeps me in the loop on new requests she gets in my area and where she accepts these beyond her immediate team. And this could stem from not wanting to duplicate work, be efficient, etc. My concern is the optics of this request, I.e. to not be seen as controlling or rude. My manager is amenable yes, I could also keep him in the loop, but I have a feeling he'd just say: 'oh the more people working in this new area, the better, what's the problem'.

OP posts:
Allwelcone · 16/06/2024 21:54

I have the feeling I am in this situation myself OP, but in your new colleague's position, weird if it's actually us!
For me, I'd say I am aware of how my colleague feels and go out of my way to ensure she's kept in the loop and make sure I thank her in public for any help she's given me. However if yr colleague is genuinely more capable that's tricky for everyone, try not to let your feelings spoil your work life. Hopefully clearer role delineation will help.

My colleague has access to our LM as a friend, they have lovely phone chats every week when we wfh.
He has also approached me to explain her sensitivities and I have said I will try my best to bear them in mind. However if I notice the beginnings of toxicity (and i have sometimes e.g "foregetting" that we worked jointly on a project, crwing loudly about any positive feedback shes"s received, smiling too sweetly and saying that I'm "top dog" etc), I'm not sure what I would do, I guess i would have to take some 'steps' to diffuse.

But I do feel for her though and try to be as sensitive as I can.

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