Issue at Work - Page 2

stomachmonkey · 10-13-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

The remedy is completely up to him. I am always calm and polite with him. He can chose to behave the same way or go back to being a holy terror. Either way, this is another item in the paper trail.

The reason I chose to bring this up now is that it is becoming increasingly clear that my current team lead is leaving. I'd be the logical choice to replace her. While I can avoid this guy mostly right now, it would be more difficult when I am responsible for assigning him work and making sure he gets it done on time. The way things are now, I would either demand that an outside person be brought in to lead the team or one of us leave it. It would not function with his current behavior as he'd be likely to view every assignment as punishment and every deadline as a way to make me look bad.

Always calm and polite. Correct tack to take. Nothing makes you look better than staying calm, rational and mature when someone else flips out.

Second part I completely disagree with.

I would either demand that an outside person be brought in to lead the team or one of us leave it.

If I offered you a promotion and that was your response I'd think a couple of things.

Chris is not all that motivated if he suggests giving someone else the job in lieue of him.

Chris is not ready to be a leader.

Chris must not think very highly of his managerial skills.

Fastest way to take yourself out of the running.

You lobby hard for the position. You know he already is.

Take it, be mature and professional.

If he gives you crap then document it and get rid of him.

legion · 10-13-2009, 12:12 PM

First off, there is no way he would be considered for the position by anyone--and he doesn't want it. He has no desire to be in a position with responsibility and will not hesitate to tell you so. His brown-nosing isn't designed to get him promoted--just to not get him fired.

Second, the fact that I would avoid becoming team lead because of him I thinks speaks more to the kind of disruption he would create. From my view, it would be better to wait for another opportunity than to walk into certain failure. I would honestly rather destroy my chances of being promoted than have to deal with that kind of stress for what would likely be years. But that isn't even the type of decision I'm making. The position isn't "management", is just a quasi-management position, and they are a dime a dozen around here. Every project and team is always looking for a new lead as people move on. There will be other opportunities. That said, one bad tenure in the position really could destroy my chances forever.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

That said, one bad tenure in the position really could destroy my chances forever.

Chris, how old are you? Late 20's, right?

flatbutt · 10-13-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

................................

But the reality is that people have a tendency to feed into the cycle of insanity and make the situation worse. And remember that there are always two sides to any story. My main point is that having distraction to take the focus away from the sturm and drang can often help matters.

I agree whole heartedly, and wish it hadn't taken me almost 50 years to learn that.

stomachmonkey · 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

First off, there is no way he would be considered for the position by anyone--and he doesn't want it. He has no desire to be in a position with responsibility and will not hesitate to tell you so.

I've heard that before and seen the exact opposite be true.

Second, the fact that I would avoid becoming team lead because of him I thinks speaks more to the kind of disruption he would create. From my view,.....

What you think and your point of view are not the only ones and they are the ones that matter least to your employer.

You need to look at it from every potential view in order to make a rational decision.

Right now you are playing chess from only one side of the board.

I'm not trying to get down on you, really. I'm really am trying to offer helpful advice.

I've seen this stuff way too many times and you'd be surprised at the kind of stuff that really goes down at the end of the day.

Hugh R · 10-13-2009, 12:38 PM

No solution, but get one of those digital recording pens for the verbal portion.

rammstein · 10-13-2009, 12:40 PM

I can call your office to talk with you about the 951 over your speakerphone.

stomachmonkey · 10-13-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rammstein

I can call your office to talk with you about the 951 over your speakerphone.

I'll join, we can make it a conference call.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I need to get one of those digital recording pens, just so I remember...

legion · 10-13-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh R

No solution, but get one of those digital recording pens for the verbal portion.

Case law in Illinois is pretty clear that I would have to notify anyone who could potentially be recorded beforehand that I intended to record.

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

I thought that's generally over the phone where there is an expectation of privacy.

legion · 10-13-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhoward

I thought that's generally over the phone where there is an expectation of privacy.

In IL this applies to ALL recordings. Illinois has the strictest standard on this kind of stuff of any state. Why do you think Chicago politicians so rarely go to jail?

legion · 10-13-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

What you think and your point of view are not the only ones and they are the ones that matter least to your employer.

You need to look at it from every potential view in order to make a rational decision.

Right now you are playing chess from only one side of the board.

I'm not trying to get down on you, really. I'm really am trying to offer helpful advice.

I've seen this stuff way too many times and you'd be surprised at the kind of stuff that really goes down at the end of the day.

I realize that my POV is limited. I also don't view this as a competition. To do so at this point would be a little presumptuous on my part. It would not surprise me in the least if my boss already has someone in mind from a different team. It's just that once the team lead leaves, that leaves just me an him on the team, and he doesn't have as broad knowledge of what the team does as I do.

I'm also not out to "get" anyone. I just want a tolerable working relationship, nothing more. Screaming tirades, erratic behavior, and hidden agendas don't facilitate that.

It really doesn't matter what happens, as any outcome will necessarily lead to me working closer with this guy. I want these issues to be resolved before hand.

Rusty Heap · Rusty Heap's Garage

Put Clear scotch tape under his mouse covering up his mouse ball so it doesn't roll.........sweet revenge, smile innocently as the screams of frustration fill the room about the his stoopid friggin P>O>S mouse doen't work........

grins

stomachmonkey · 10-14-2009, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

Put Clear scotch tape under his mouse covering up his mouse ball so it doesn't roll.........sweet revenge, smile innocently as the screams of frustration fill the room about the his stoopid friggin P>O>S mouse doen't work........

grins

Better, put a small crack in the body, when the ball moves it spins rollers that are attached to shafts that drive a disc with slots in it, on one side of the disc is an LED, the other a side a detector.

If there is light leakage into the case it totally screws up the behavior of the mouse.

Takes forever to figure out because it's randomly erratic.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

Put Clear scotch tape under his mouse covering up his mouse ball so it doesn't roll.........sweet revenge, smile innocently as the screams of frustration fill the room about the his stoopid friggin P>O>S mouse doen't work........

grins

The 90's called, they want their mouse back! Mouse balls? That is SO 1990's.

legion · 06-07-2012, 12:02 PM

I thought I would revive this thread as there has been a significant update.

Shortly after I wrote this thread I was retaliated against. Specifically, a complaint was lodged to my manager by an unnamed (to me) individual that I spent too much time on the Pelican Parts BBS at work. My reaction? I stopped accessing this forum at work and doubled-down on my effort at work. I still don't access this site at work anymore.

Over the past 2+ years, I have built strong relationships with other members of my team, including the problem individual. We now have a decent working relationship. An outside person was brought in to be our team lead, but I am the person that is generally contacted for expertise on my system.

Just to recap:

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

The first incidence occured when I was assigned to convince another team to use our technology. It wasn't the best fit, but the business side wanted it. I knew the other team wasn't overly enthused, so I laid out the best logical argument I could muster. I scheduled a series of meetings where in each I focused on explaining and getting buy-in on one aspect of my argument. The coworker in question was assigned to be my backup. After the first meeting he basically decided he hated the other team's lead and started projecting problems onto him. He decided that this other team had it out for us and wanted to develop a competing technology. (The did not and they don't have the time or the budget to entertain such ideas.) He would loudly complain about the team lead at every opportunity and call him names in meetings. He'd bring up the guy to bash just to bash him, and if someone else mentioned a problem they were having he'd start in with: "At least your problem isn't as bad as..."

During the third meeting he started screaming at the other team's lead accusing him of the things he was projecting onto him. I simply stopped inviting him to meetings after that as he proved to be a hindrance rather than a help. The damage was done, and I ended up not making the "sale" as it were.

Shortly after I posted this, my team and the one mentioned above were brought under the same manager, though the person who was at the receiving end of the tirade left for a development opportunity. Today it was announced that the person identified above as "the other team's lead" is now my new manager.

john70t · 06-07-2012, 12:14 PM

Sorry to hear that. Sincerely.
Good luck. Middle management is not always picked for their skills in making subservients feel comfortable and/or motivated to create the best outcome for the group. Many times, an unnecessary hostile environment is put in place when it is absolutely not needed.

Best to keep inter-office politics off the internet, unless you can vent frustrations anonymously.

Zeke · 06-07-2012, 12:16 PM

Man, that is a chess game. Few rules either. Whatever you think this man on the board does, he does. Except maybe the king.

legion · 06-07-2012, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john70t

Sorry to hear that. Sincerely.
Good luck. Middle management is not always picked for their skills in making subservients feel comfortable and/or motivated to create the best outcome for the group. Many times, an unnecessary hostile environment is put in place when it is absolutely not needed.

Best to keep inter-office politics off the internet, unless you can vent frustrations anonymously.

I think you misunderstand. The guy who is my new manager is the guy who got screamed at. He is extremely competent and I welcome him as my new boss. I'm actually really excited about this and really looking forward to working with him. The guy doing the screaming (coworker on my team) now reports to the guy he screamed at a few years ago.