It’s “the place are you now?” month at Ask a Supervisor, and all December I’m operating updates from individuals who had their letters right here answered up to now.
There shall be extra posts than traditional this week, so maintain checking again all through the day.
Bear in mind the letter-writer who promoted one worker as an alternative of her coworker, and now their complete group was upset? Right here’s the replace.
I did observe your recommendation by not asking Annie to do or say something with respect to the general dynamic on the group. I at all times knew that I couldn’t try this, actually; I wrote the letter in a pissed off second. That second has handed and the group has moved on to different issues. Beth is settling into her place. Annie has not stop, and I don’t know to what extent she has regarded elsewhere. There was no additional battle between Annie and Jane.
I made the unique letter as quick and easy as potential, however I can provide a bit extra background on your commenters. (I’m positive Annie would admire their outrage on her behalf!) The promotional alternative was dictated by our company headquarters 3000 miles away, and formally I’m not the decision-maker though I led the interview group and my advice was accepted. An out of doors candidate was not an possibility as a result of coverage that comes from excessive above me requires an inside promotion, and admittedly I agree that that’s an excellent coverage given the character of the place. The work is a bit esoteric. Shifting Beth to a unique group upon promotion was additionally not a sensible possibility as a result of our group is the one one in our geographic space.
There was a proper, standardized utility course of which concerned Annie and Beth answering the identical questions of their respective interviews. The one query Annie answered poorly was the one which, contemplating her historical past, she needed to reply completely: how do you deal with stress? That’s the supply of the “volatility” I discussed: she often handles stress by screaming and crying. These incidents have come a number of years aside, so I’d hesitate to model her a high-drama-high-performer, however I’d additionally hesitate to position her in a everlasting place of authority. A earlier supervisor pushed her to talk to a counselor and to her credit score she did. I believed that she had gotten herself below management, however then got here the pinnacle butting between Annie and Jane. A few of Annie’s complaints about Jane have been professional and steps have been taken to right that. Nonetheless, Annie’s supply of her issues concerned identify calling, which is clearly not acceptable. Actually the one criticism that has ever appeared in Annie’s analysis is “deal with stress higher.” It hasn’t occurred but, however I haven’t given up solely — for Annie’s personal sake in addition to for the sake of the folks round her. I do stay stunned that she obtained a lot assist from her colleagues when she was handed over for the promotion contemplating that her historical past is widespread data.
As for why I might ever have fantasized about asking Annie to diffuse the stress when she’s too risky for promotion? As a result of 99% of the time she’s Dr. Jekyll. However the 1% of the time that she’s Ms. Hyde continues to be 1% an excessive amount of when there’s a extra secure possibility.