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 previously.
There can be extra posts than ordinary this week, so preserve checking again all through the day.
Keep in mind the letter-writer who promoted one worker as an alternative of her coworker, and now their entire workforce 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 workforce. I at all times knew that I couldn’t do this, actually; I wrote the letter in a pissed off second. That second has handed and the workforce has moved on to different considerations. Beth is settling into her place. Annie has not give up, and I don’t know to what extent she has seemed elsewhere. There was no additional battle between Annie and Jane.
I made the unique letter as quick and easy as doable, however I may give a bit extra background to 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 workforce and my advice was accepted. An outdoor 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 special workforce upon promotion was additionally not a practical possibility as a result of our workforce is the one one in our geographic space.
There was a proper, standardized software 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 put 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 underneath management, however then got here the top butting between Annie and Jane. A few of Annie’s complaints about Jane had been authentic and steps have been taken to right that. Nevertheless, Annie’s supply of her considerations 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 fully — for Annie’s personal sake in addition to for the sake of the individuals round her. I do stay shocked that she obtained a lot help from her colleagues when she was handed over for the promotion contemplating that her historical past is frequent information.
As for why I’d 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 steady possibility.