Contrary Colleague or Over-sensitivity on my part?

gettingtheresometime

I've got a situation at work and I don't know if I'm being over sensitive or my colleague is being contrary.

Basically I've noticed (or perceived!) that a young colleague will respond to any requests that our supervisor or the line manager above him makes but if I ask her to do something its acknowledged but then no action is taken.

If I then get asked about it by said supervisor or line manager in her presence she immediately jumps to it.

I've also noticed (or perceived!) that if I make a suggestion and she doesn't want to follow that suggestion she doesn't and refers the matter to our supervisor / line manager for their input or simply ignores the matter....only for it to raise its ugly head weeks later.

I've recently joined the team, don't perceive myself to be above the colleague in question and I know the team went through a bad time with conflict between colleagues so I really don't want to rock the boat but at the same time, I can't help but feel that I'm being treated with almost contempt.

How can I determine whether its my perception or whether this colleague does have 'an attitude problem'?

Fionabell

Are you her supervisor? If not - how would you feel if she was asking you to do stuff?

If you've just joined the team and you're not her boss maybe she is a bit fed up with you.


ETA - just 'cos she's young doesn't mean she's dumb.

gettingtheresometime

I fully appreciate that by being young doesn't make her dumb but, whilst I'm not her supervisor, there are things that she needs to do so that I can do my job (all of which she's aware of); if these are left to the last possible minute it makes me look either incompetent or I have to stay late to get the work done on time.

If you had bothered to read my first post you would have known that I was asking how to decide whether there was a problem or whether it was one that I was imagining

Flyonthewall

Either the above is happening or it isn't. If your requesting for her to do things and it's not happening then you're obviously not imagining things. If these things not happening is affecting you as you can't do your job until it's done then obviously it's a problem.

However, she may not be doing it to be awkward. She listens to those above her because they're above her. You're new and already making numerous requests and suggestions (I would assume, for you to notice an issue). You aren't above her, it's not your job to tell her what to do and perhaps she feels she's being ordered around.

It could be she has an attitude problem or it could be the way you come across to her.

Fionabell was simply double checking you weren't her supervisor, asked you a good question and answered your question (it could be that they are fed up with you). Your reply of "if you had bothered to read my first post" comes across as a bit rude. If you talk to your colleague in that way it'd be understandable that she may not be too happy.

Regardless of you think you're coming across, perhaps you could try to be nicer and think about how you're wording requests in case she is taking it the wrong way. Also, while making suggestions can be helpful she probably doesn't want loads of changes or you making suggestions on how she should do her job so perhaps think carefully about how helpful the suggestion is and, as with requests, be extra nice and think about how you're wording the suggestions you do make. If it's a suggestion about how she should do her job it's probably best not to say anything and let her get on with things her own way.

Ozzuk

I think it's good you are asking if you are the real problem and not her - you've already come across defensive to someone trying to clarify the position which suggests you are over sensitive. Couple that with the 'younger' person not being willing to follow your direction I can see it is a situation that could easily get worse. So it's both of you, but as you are the one that needs the work done it falls to you to lead the solution.

I don't know how your job dynamic works, if there are formal things she needs to do for you then can you request via email copying in a supervisor? That would give her the validity she seems to require and if the supervisor gets sick of all the email they can look at the team and decide what procedures are required.

getmore4less

Stop telling them what to do tel the supervisor you need deadlines setting for their deliverables as they are not delivering to you in time for you to do your job.

Decide what those deadlines are and if stuff does not happen in time then things will be late/need overtime paying.

Document the workflow times to protect your position.

Gavin83

If this colleague was older than you would your feelings be different?

If you have something that urgently needs doing I'd suggest speaking to her line manager. I get asked by colleagues regularly to carry out various tasks which I'll often do. I know in return I can ask that colleague in the future to carry out tasks for me. However work from managers will always take priority. At the end of the day if it's a choice out of upsetting the manager or a colleague, especially one who hasn't been there long the manager will win every time. After all they're the people with the power to shape your career.

TBagpuss

It sounds as though it may be a bit of both. She may feel that you are trying to act as if you were more senior than her, and be pushing back, she may also be uncooperative.

Are the things you are asking her to do things which *only * she can do, or are they things which you could do ?

If they are part of her job, then I would suggest that you speak to her, at a time when it isn't an emergency.

Say something along the lines of "I wanted to chat about how we manage the low of work for [process] - from my induction/training, I understnad that I am suppsoed to ask you to do A so that I can then do B. I'e noticed that when I ask you to do A you're not always able to do it, or you do it but the timing means I then struggle to do B.
Have I misunderstood how this is supposed to work? Would it be better if I included in my memo / e-mail to you when I need it by to ensure I can complete my half of the task? Or is there something welse I can do to try to make this work better?"

I think that kind of approach, where you are asking for her advice rather than trying to tell her what to do, may work better, and if it doesn;t then you may need to speak to your supervisor and ask them if they can either provide you with training so you can do the full process, or alternatively speak to you and the other woman and set out what each of you should be doing.

If your supervisor tells you that you should be asking your collague to do 'B', then start cc-ing them in on your requests, and include in your request any information about timing

e.g. "Hi Janet,
I attach [thing], could you do [process B] and let me have this back so that I can do [process C].
This needs to be finished today so could you make sure I have it back no later than 3 p.m. so there is time to complete task C. If this is likely to be a problem could you let me or Supervisor know? (or even "I appreciate you have a lot of other jobs in hand, if the timing is going to be a problem, could you let me know, and I'll speak with Supervisor to check whether he/she needs this to take priority, or if you'd prefer to speak to supervisor yourself could you let me know their decision?")

I do agree tht a lot of this may be down to tone - in your post here you come agross as quite harsh and if you come across that way at work you may well have put her back up. It's also very possible that she prioritises work given to her by more senior members of staff in which case asking for trianing so you can do the task yourself, or asking your supervisor to give you both some input about which things need to be prioritised may help.

Tiddlywinks

Hmm - you chose to describe your colleague as 'younger' so I think her age is an issue with you in some way; otherwise why mention it in the first place.

You bit the head off the first poster so I think you may need to look at how you react to people.

You're new to the team and are already telling colleagues what to do - how do you think they feel about that?

If you have an issue with workflow from a colleague then speak to your supervisor and ask if some deadlines can be agreed.

As colleagues you'll need to work together - you can't just make her bend to your will.

McKneff

You have an 'attitude' and you really need to deal with that first.

gettingtheresometime

I certainly had food for thought here and I didn't mean to 'bite' Fionabell's head off and for that I apologise.

Whilst I'm new to the team, its more a case of I've rejoined the team so whilst I am 'new' I'm not (if that makes any sense!)

I'm not firing on all cylinders at the moment so I didn't want to say anything that would cause any unpleasantness - and believe it or not we all get along,

As I suggested I'm going to take a step back and see how things progress.....