Working with someone who isn't a team player...

SteveVx

Hi All,


My background, 8 years + experience in IT, worked with many global companies, I've worked with Junior people up to CEO's, I've worked solo and in teams up to 25 people, I've worked with people all across the globe. In my last role I was the Technical Subject Matter Expert for the team.

Anyway with the intro done here is the situation


I've just started a new job in a new area of IT that I am not too familiar with, I part of a team of 4, (2 of the team member's are only in our team due to geographic region, they are in a different department)

I was paired up with a guy who has been with the company 6 months..he is ex old-bill..let's call him Mark. He has extensive experience in this area of IT 20 Years+

Anyway ever since joining he is meant to be teaching me the job and showing me what to do etc...I am getting rather frustrated that since I have been with the company (around 2 months) he is only seems to be telling me half of the information or will miss important things out like crucial steps in a process.


I have tried telling him nicely and then assertively that I need to be shown properly how to do this and he just ignores me...

an example of his poor behavior would be that he was on holiday recently and a customer emailed in saying they want us to do some work for them. I was told by the manger to call Mark as he knew what we needed to do as he had quoted the job, so I call Mark up and say can you tell me what you need to do and send me the quote?

He goes " No I can't tell you, you won't be able to do it don't worry, I'll sort it when I get back"
I then said "can you send over the quote?"
He goes "oh I can't find it"

He then must of emailed the customer privately and told them he would do the work for them next week. I tell the Manager who seems to be okay with this... and sends me the quote I was rather annoyed as I should of been given the chance to get involved in this work.



Another example is Mark is meant to send me all the templates required to quote for new work...I've asked him time and time again to send it and he either says " he doesn't have it, or can't find it" which I find really odd because he is somehow quoting for new work and sending this out to customers. I was asked to quote for a job recently and used one of Mark's old Quotes. I tried editing it but as he hadn't told me how he worked out the prices it was a disaster!



Mark's is always very secretive he always asks me what I am working on and (before) as a fool I would say I am working on x, y , z when I would ask him he would reply "this and that".

Last week I got rather annoyed as he messaged me saying he was at a conference! I asked him why wasn't I told? I mean we are both at the same level...he goes "don't worry it's boring your not missing much" but the point is I should of at least been asked if I wanted to go regardless if he is finding it boring.



I guess I am just finding it so difficult to work with this guy, when he doesn't properly show me anything, or teach me anything...I spoke to my colleagues at my old place and they said it seems like he see's me as a threat and wants me to remain under him so he isn't teaching me.

I have of course raised this with my manager who has said he'll get me some "extra" support in the New Year.


But do you think going forward I should just act like he is? Shall I become all secretive and not tell him anything like he is doing to me?


Everyone else in the company I get on fine with!

Lorian

I've seen this a few times in my career. Ask your manager to have team meetings, this is usually a good step forward to helping.

Blatchford

SteveVx wrote: »

Hi All,


My background, 8 years + experience in IT, worked with many global companies, I've worked with Junior people up to CEO's, I've worked solo and in teams up to 25 people, I've worked with people all across the globe. In my last role I was the Technical Subject Matter Expert for the team.

Anyway with the intro done here is the situation


I've just started a new job in a new area of IT that I am not too familiar with, I part of a team of 4, (2 of the team member's are only in our team due to geographic region, they are in a different department)

I was paired up with a guy who has been with the company 6 months..he is ex old-bill..let's call him Mark. He has extensive experience in this area of IT 20 Years+

Anyway ever since joining he is meant to be teaching me the job and showing me what to do etc...I am getting rather frustrated that since I have been with the company (around 2 months) he is only seems to be telling me half of the information or will miss important things out like crucial steps in a process.


I have tried telling him nicely and then assertively that I need to be shown properly how to do this and he just ignores me...

an example of his poor behavior would be that he was on holiday recently and a customer emailed in saying they want us to do some work for them. I was told by the manger to call Mark as he knew what we needed to do as he had quoted the job, so I call Mark up and say can you tell me what you need to do and send me the quote?

He goes " No I can't tell you, you won't be able to do it don't worry, I'll sort it when I get back"
I then said "can you send over the quote?"
He goes "oh I can't find it"

He then must of emailed the customer privately and told them he would do the work for them next week. I tell the Manager who seems to be okay with this... and sends me the quote I was rather annoyed as I should of been given the chance to get involved in this work.



Another example is Mark is meant to send me all the templates required to quote for new work...I've asked him time and time again to send it and he either says " he doesn't have it, or can't find it" which I find really odd because he is somehow quoting for new work and sending this out to customers. I was asked to quote for a job recently and used one of Mark's old Quotes. I tried editing it but as he hadn't told me how he worked out the prices it was a disaster!



Mark's is always very secretive he always asks me what I am working on and (before) as a fool I would say I am working on x, y , z when I would ask him he would reply "this and that".

Last week I got rather annoyed as he messaged me saying he was at a conference! I asked him why wasn't I told? I mean we are both at the same level...he goes "don't worry it's boring your not missing much" but the point is I should of at least been asked if I wanted to go regardless if he is finding it boring.



I guess I am just finding it so difficult to work with this guy, when he doesn't properly show me anything, or teach me anything...I spoke to my colleagues at my old place and they said it seems like he see's me as a threat and wants me to remain under him so he isn't teaching me.

I have of course raised this with my manager who has said he'll get me some "extra" support in the New Year.


But do you think going forward I should just act like he is? Shall I become all secretive and not tell him anything like he is doing to me?


Everyone else in the company I get on fine with!

Regardless of who told you what and when.... You phoned him about a work issue when he was on holiday? And to be honest, it seems that he's the same level as you and himself only recently started, so why anyone is expecting him to train you or to explain his whereabouts to you seems a bit of a mystery.

To be total blunt, you seem a bit full of yourself (that entire first paragraph added nothing other than how glorious you are), and if you'd phoned me about a work issue whilst on holiday I'd have been much less of an team player - I'd have told you that I don't work whilst on holiday, and that's the point of holiday. Rather bluntly too.

If you need training, that is understandable in a new role, but that should be something arranged by the line manager and a formal process, not some kind of haphazard event when you can't do something. If he goes to a conference it must be with the agreement of the line manager, so it's the line manager who determines resource allocation and time - not you because you fancy being competitive about who gets a day out at a conference. And no line manager should tell you to contact a colleague whilst they are on leave.

To be blunt, it sound more like you are as poor a team player as you say he is; and your manager is incompetent.

ohreally

You need an element of hand holding, Mark can't be @rsed, your manager appears ok with this and your assertiveness has been ignored.

Look for another role in the new year.

prowla

I've had that happen on occasion; in one job I decided half way through the 3rd week I'd just use it as a learning experience and leave at the end of the 3-month trial period. I also had it when I started my current job and I simply never asked the other person anything again.

SteveVx

I am fully aware of not contacting people when on holiday and I would of not done this under any usual circumstances but my manger insisted I contact him!

I am definitely not full of myself , as I am asking for help and know I need training

SteveVx

Thanks for the advice everyone. I am going to stick out for a few more months and see how things go!

elsien

It's poor practice to just have one person able to access relevant information. If you can convince your manager to hold a team meeting, perhaps you could discuss systems where if one person is on holiday or unwell their work is still accessible to the manager at least.
Is there some sort of performance criteria or bonus around getting work and quotes in, or he being precious and your nose is out of joint? Apart from being miffed about being sidelined, how important is that aspect of your job?
You seem to be blaming Mark, who may or may not being a bit of a tit, but it is your manager's responsibility to ensure you have the training and tools you need. Are you having supervision or reviews? If not, ask for one.

SteveVx

Yes there is a bonus related to the amount of work you do I guess this could be one reason why he doesn't want me to do any!

My plan when I go back is to have a 1 to 1 with my manager and come up with a training plan and asked to be paired up with someone else in the business other than "Mark" even if the person they pair me up with is the other side of the world it still would be better! (We have another team who do the same job as us in Singapore)







Thanks for all the help!

theoretica

Sounds like your work needs to sort out filing and things so everyone can find quotes, templates and other documents. Work documents should not be in personal and inaccessible filing systems. What happens when you all go down with vomiting bug at the same time and someone needs to step in?


Some people are really bad at training others - incompetence and disinterest (is training people in his job description?) rather than malice - if the other guy has been in the same area for 20+ years why hasn't he moved up/on?



If you want to attend conferences look them out and make a case to your manager why it is good for the business for you to go.

TELLIT01

You've tried asking 'Mark' and got nowhere. Next step is to have a quiet word with your manager to tell him you aren't getting the training you need and ask if he can do anything about it. Possibly even suggest having a formal training plan and linking that to Mark's objectives.
If your manager won't help, you then have two alternatives. 1) Have it out with Mark or 2) look for another job.