***Follow-up: Outcome

Hello,

I could use some advice. A co-worker has been undermining my work. Until now it has been passive-aggressive activity that has been easy to dismiss, but today she undid something that I had done and then publicly announced that she was taking my project over to our work group via email. It's coming at a bad time for me privately and I'm struggling against those emotions to maintain a professional demeanor.

I am not subordinate to this co-worker, although she has been at the company longer. The project in question is a smaller task that is part of a larger project I took on at the beginning of the pandemic and done with my supervisor's full knowledge and approval. It was offered to my co-worker first, but she turned it down. I feel that my subsequent success in this role has created some resentment.

My boss (company president), her boss (operations manager) and the two of us will most likely meet next week to come to a consensus on the matter.

I need to remain as gracious and professional in this as possible, but also need to advocate for myself. What she did was uncalled-for. She's done "office work" long enough to know that her actions are inflammatory. Has anyone else been in a similar/comparative position and handled it with a positive outcome? I'd love to hear from you.

Thank you!

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12 Comments

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  1. Anonymous

    Hi there! First, I am so sorry to hear you're going through this situation.

    Have you brought this up to your coworker privately first?

  2. Anonymous

    Yes. Although I tried to keep it as light as possible and stuck to the facts, she became defensive and critical of everything i offered as a solution. My boss said he saw that coming, but I felt that I needed to give it a try.

  3. Anonymous

    I think it was definitely the right choice to try.

  4. Anonymous

    Allow yourself to be hurt and angry so that you get those emotions out of your system as much as possible before the meeting. What she did was uncalled for and petty, but you can't go into the meeting with that mindset or she will win.

    The best thing you can do before the meeting is prep. Know the project inside and out and make sure that you have solid logic behind why you are completing the project the way you are; even better if you can relate it to specific benefits for the company. That should be what your boss and the operations manager care about the most. Also figure out which parts of the project you absolutely don't want to change or give away and which are the parts that you don't care as much about. This will help you know which hills you are willing to die on during the meeting.

    I think it's good that the meeting is going to have both of your bosses in it, so that there are witnesses to what is decided. You are right that you need to remain as gracious and professional as possible. It will help if you come at the meeting with the mindset of figuring out a solution that is best for the company. Also try to spend as much time listening as possible and not actually talking. Don't be afraid to stand your ground, just do not get argumentative or personal when you do it. Let the facts and logic justify your actions. It would be good to ask your boss and her boss their vision of the project and what they want the project to accomplish, just to make sure everyone is on the same page. Also, make sure that you come out of the meeting with a very clear understanding of what has been assigned and to whom it has been assigned. It could be helpful to do a quick summary at the end where all of that is listed out to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

    The relationship that your bosses have with your coworker will color this meeting, so that is an important thing to consider and also prepare for. It can help to reframe the goal of this meeting into one where you figure out a path forward for the project that is ideal for the company and take any personal attachment out of it.

    If you can remain calm cool and collected in the meeting any passive aggressiveness/pettiness on her part will really shine through. She clearly knows what she is doing, but you don't want to or need to go to her level. If you have an expressive face, it might be best to have a notepad and take notes whenever someone else is talking so that people don't see your initial reactions as easily.

    You mentioned that you have been struggling in your private life with some things. As much as you can, in the time between now and the meeting, be good to yourself. Do things that you enjoy, eat your favorite meals, get full nights of sleep etc. This will help you get into the most positive place you can be so that you are as fortified as possible going into the meeting. It's also important to do this for a few days after the meeting. What happens right after the meeting is just as important as the meeting itself. Being poised and gracious in these situations is exhausting so you have to be mentally strong and the only way to do that is take care of yourself the best you can.

    I hope some of this helps! Good luck :)

  5. Anonymous

    You make very good points; some reinforce what I have been thinking, others had not occurred to me yet (the self-care especially - I tend to overthink and beat myself up over perceived mistakes). I appreciate the suggestions and the time and interest you've given. Thank you!

  6. JJ

    You’re going to have to have a difficult conversation. Practice being quiet while the awkwardness swirls around you. Do not be defensive. Stick to facts. Do not retreat or say you’re sorry.

  7. Communication Coach

    Why a meeting next week? That makes this crisis seem routine! I would be demanding an

  8. Anonymous

    Why is the meeting next week? That makes this office practice grand faux pas seem routine! An emergency meeting demanded the same day this happened puts situation in the context it belongs. To do such a thing is so far out of the bounds of being ethical, professional or professional courtesy - it should not be tolerated to change someones work!! Who does this person think they are? No, matter how small or large the body of work is, one just does not do that if there is a shred of professional boundaries in the corporate culture! Your composure is important, but, indignation is appropriate!

  9. Anonymous

    I totally agree with you. Unfortunately, there were larger scheduling conflicts immediately afterward, and I was concerned that the meeting over this incident would not be given the time and consideration it required. The operations director (her supervisor) was on vacation. When he returned, the division President (my boss) had some time off, and then I was on point for a training day with a major shipper that I wanted to focus on (my co-worker was included in the training meeting). The wait was difficult, but it did give me time to obtain objective advice and take a 360* look at the issue instead of only thinking about my feelings.

  10. Erin Vega

    Agree with everyone that has commented.
    Use this time to get your ducks in a row and although petty what this co-worker do not go into this meeting with emotion. Also go on with ideas for solutions to this issue.

  11. Jenny Cox, PHR

    One thing that has helped me when I'm afraid I might lose my cool in a meeting is to picture the conversation as an object. In my case, I use a ball. One person will say something about the project for example. And instead of taking it personally if I don't agree with them, I picture it as them throwing me the ball. And I can either keep it OR I can reshape or recolor the ball, change it however I like; and then toss it to them or someone else in the room.

    I know this sounds crazy. But it sounds like you've worked very hard on this project and care about the work you do. Sometimes when we care so much, it's hard not to let things affect us personally. For me, the ball helps me remember that it's not an attack on me; we are just passing the ball around. And I keep a small ball on my desk as a visual reminder.

  12. Anonymous

    Thank you for the update!

    It sounds like you handled things perfectly and they worked out, even though the meeting was two weeks after the original issue. I'm glad you were given public support both by both your boss and hers. I hope you took some time to yourself to celebrate that victory. Totally not appropriate to do at work, but definitely should be done at home since you made it through unscathed.

    Fingers crossed that this actually helps and that she backs off, despite her sarcasm. Glad it all seems to be working out! :)

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