Submitted by loiner on
in
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in our workplace a former manager now works as part of our accounts team. This individual is pretty popular in the workplace, though not a stellar performer. They have however caused me directly no end of problems, constantly questioning me in meetings in front of my staff. Bad mouthing me to other managers. Yet I seem to be the only one who sees the problem. I've challenfged the individual directly, but their behaviour hasnt improved, nor does their manager see it as a problem.
I'm a fairly laid back kind of person, and havent come across this type of behaviour, whereby someone seems to have it in for me, worse still they are not someone i directly manage, and no one seems prepared to back me.
Ignore them
Hi Loiner,
Not knowing the full context of things, but sounds like this person maybe kind of a workplace bully. And, or perhaps they are disgruntled becuase they are a former manager.
There are two things I would recommend. Regarding the bad mouthing, I would ignore it. It is probably the case where this person has a habit of bad mouthing people. Everyone around them is probably aware of this and there is not much you can do to change it. Just ignore it. Continue to perform and develope those internal relationships. Let your results and relationships speak for you.
Regarding the questioning in meetings. Would need to know more of the context. Is this person asking legitimate questions? Is this person asking questions that inappropriatly negative? Asking questions in front of your staff is not neccessarily a bad thing unless the questions are overly combative.
thanks for your guidance
thanks for your guidance here, there is on occasion an air of legitimacy to the questions, though one can almost guarantee that the questions will not be what you might term constructive, i'd class the individual as a serial `moaner' namely never solutions - only problems. There is as you say more than a small hint of bitterness that they lost their job as a manager over 3 years ago, and have not had many interviews since.
I think the point on focusing on the positive relationships is a good one however and I will endeavour to do that, some strong results in my area, but i guess human nature to focus on the problems!
yes I have considered whether they are a bully, they probably are, and a tough one again when you highlight these behaviours as a manager, and those above you dont really seem to care all that much.