I was just transferred to a new dept, but I still have to work with my old supervisor, who I don't get a long with. Long story short, I have no respect for her, and we both know it. She is insecure, self-centered, and incompetent. Last week we had a stressful situation come up, and my old supervisor said "I need this to be fixed!" to which I replied "then fix it!" (it's easy to assign the impossible to others, isn't it?"). Well, I heard she was really upset about this, so what do I do if she talks to my new supervisor about it? Do I take the high road and remain silent about how much pressure she puts on me? Or do I lay all the cards on the table? BTW..my new supervisor really likes me and the head of my department likes me, so i'd almost rather remain silent, and let time show him the truth. On the other hand, I feel he will need to side with a fellow supervisor and he may also worry he has a "problem" employee on his hands, which will tarnish my reputation. What do I do?
2007-09-22 13:18:46 · 9 answers · asked by Mystic 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
btw...I would only "lay the cards on the table" if I was brought in for a meeting. I wouldn't offer the info wilingly. My old boss always starts crying and loses her temper under stress, so I think she'll eventually dig her own grave. I tend to remain calm, especially under stress. But I'd finally just had enough of her that day. It was the first time I didn't bother trying to calm her down, but instead reacted. Which is why I think she was so shocked. But my new boss doesn't know this about me.
But I just couldn't take her yelling at me to fix something, that I was already working on 100%, so essentially I was just saying help or get out!
I guess she didn't take that well.
2007-09-22 13:47:24 · update #1
Do not bring it up. If asked, explain, but don't be the one to make an issue of it. It is best to let time show the truth. Let your work speak for itself.
If the subject does come up, focus your explanation on the work aspects of the incident, not the personality side of it. You should put your work above personality issues. So should your former supervisor, and if you do but she doesn't, guess who is going to look less than professional?
2007-09-22 13:28:30 · answer #1 · answered by Ruth C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Information about your performance at work goes on file and the information is shared company wide. It's the business of your employer and your supervisors to maintain records of employees. It's not up to the employee to "set the record straight". You don't know that maybe your new supervisor has a great deal of respect for your old supervisor, they may be friends, or have a long professional relationship you know nothing about. It'd be unwise, therefore, to try to speak to your new supervisor about the other. It's inappropriate to talk negatively about others at work and your new supervisor will know that it's in your character to speak negatively about your superiors and she'll probably not trust you to remain loyal to her if you ever disagree with her. Be professional at all times and keep your mouth shut. Take responsibility for the conflicts between you and your old supervisor and learn about what you could have done to prevent the tension. If the topic ever comes up with your new sup be prepared to admit that you were part of the problem, but that you've grown from the experience.
2007-09-22 20:34:04 · answer #2 · answered by Squeak 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Continue to do your job as you do it if you are doing nothing wrong. If your new supervisor likes you, then I wouldn't bring up previous problems with a different supervisor. Trust me, your new supervisor would have a talk with you if he/she heard from your previous if they thought there was a problem. That would only be a time when you could state your case otherwise if you aren't a problem employee, it will show to your new supervisor that you are a good employee. Leave it alone for now.
2007-09-22 20:34:18 · answer #3 · answered by dawnb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Don't respond. Your work ethic should prove otherwise. If your old supervisor bad mouthed you to your new supervisor, as a supervisor, he is entitled to his own opinion about his troops. Your performance will be the final determination on what your new supervisor thinks about you, and then it will look like your old supervisor has no leadership skills. Food for thought ;)
2007-09-22 20:29:44 · answer #4 · answered by Aronious 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make amends with your old supervisor. Have a 'come to Jesus" meeting and lay the cards ont he table about WHY you two don't mesh but not the recent incident - you don't want to seem paranoid. If the new S hears anything then sees you and the old S chumming it up, no big. In a big corp though you are wise to have anyone and everyone you've ever worked for like and respect your work. I say fix the problem, you don't have to love them but you do need their respect.
2007-09-22 20:48:02 · answer #5 · answered by Ann 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
IMHO, I would say NO. Don't even mention it and see what happens, for all you know your new boss may not think to much of your old boss but is smart enough not to say anything to any body. IOW let him make his own decision of you and your work.
2007-09-22 20:31:04 · answer #6 · answered by John P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remain silent.
2007-09-22 20:45:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you didnt do anything wrong. It sounds to me as your former supervisor wants you to look bad, so dont allow it. just ignore her dont react to anything she does or say, show no emotion. she'll leave you alone.
2007-09-22 20:59:02 · answer #8 · answered by Winters child 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. Do not allow yourself to go unrepresented.
2007-09-22 20:30:27 · answer #9 · answered by bettercockster7 c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋