|
Co-worker trying to take over parts of my job
I work at a school as a reading resource teacher. We have had many new changes this year. With those new changes came a new teacher leader. Her and I started working at the school at the same time as classroom teachers and she moved into this new role this year. I have been a resource teacher for 2 yrs now and my role has also become part of our leadership team. The previous person who was in the teacher leader role was very off hands. This opened up more leadership roles for me slowly over time. Now that we have a new person in this role I feel that she is trying to take leadership opportunities that I have done in the past away. For example, all of our students receive a test 3x a year. I have ran these test, created the schoolwode calendar, and pretty much handled all of it for a year and half. Now, our new teacher leader is slowly trying to take it away. Technically, handling this test is in her job description but our previous teacher leader didn’t do that. I’m struggling with all of this bc I understand she is trying to do her roles but I have also worked very hard to have these systems in place and run smoothly. Her personality is one that if she is involved in something she like to take over the conversation, emailing to teachers, communicating to our principal, etc and it makes me feel like I don’t have a voice and that I need to compete just to be a part of it. We work closely together in our building and I feel like I am constantly trying to hold onto some of the things that I have worked hard on in the past. She says things like, “Oh, I’m going to take this off your hands.” I struggle with finding the words to stand up for myself. Part of the reason why is bc my role isn’t just reading with students but also leadership and that’s not typical in most schools. So I feel like maybe she thinks I’m overstepping bc I am doing leadership roles that aren’t typically done by a resource teacher but I have been in charge of these things for almost 2 yrs now. I am completely fine working together and sharing the load but she makes decisions without me and takes it upon herself to handing these things. We also just got a new principal 3 months into the school year and she is always running to her with our ideas without me. Any suggestions on how to handle her and/or this situation would be appreciated!
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Relationships category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Work/School Relationships?
Sounds like in doing the responsibilities of the hands off lady, you came to love her job. I think you forgot what your job alone felt like and now that you are put back into that job spot with the new person doing her full role plus more, you may no longer be happy with your previous job and what it entails. I know you don't see it that way but if you find you end up with empty time on your hands or feel there are no challenges or less challenges to handle, then one problem could be you are bored with your job. I wonder why you did not apply for that job and leave yours open for them to fill.
You can not be upset with the new person for filling her job role completely. The last person was the problem and should not have been shirking her responsibilities as laid out in job description. However if you have something that falls into your job description that she wants to take off your hands, you simply say, So nice of you to offer but I can handle. But I will remember to ask for help if I run behind. That is what youk say to keep from making an enemy at work, regardless if you never intend to accept her help.
What she is doing, she may not be aware of, the getting involved in everything and sucking up to the boss, this is something that some new hirees do, when they feel that their hiring interview wasn't enough to show the boss that they know their job, their subconscious mind can kick into gear, making a person doubt their abilities and wanting to make a very good impression, will often over do it in an attempt to get noticed as a good new employee. This is the most likely reason. However there is a slight chance that it after some time has gone by, like a few more months, if she doesnt settle in a become comfortable with her position, and stop overachieving and showing off, then it may be a character fault. What I suggest is if you can present new things to the boss as you need to, and it doesn't have to be teacher's unanimously coming together and agreeing, then do so. You may want to be sure of the rules in employment there, is anything so loosely termed that it is more up to an individual to interpret what the rule is? If this is the case, and you would feel more secure with very exact, cut and dried rules, then bring it up on any of the rules regarding working for that school or school district and bring it up with your new principal. If you are doing discussions with the new person and taking part in coming up with solutions and she runs to the boss and presents them as just her own, then you have a problem, she is being fair to you. You may not be as outgoing as her but you could in a chat alone with the principal in passing ask, "You know that idea about the ....., did Lucy say where she got It?" This way you hear if it was her own idea or the principal looks started and says,, "Why you should know, she said both of you came up with it. In a job, it is important for a boss to know that you came up with idea's that were just yours or shared. A busy boss may not know. So if you find out that she said the ideas were hers, then ask about the others and if she took sole credit for all of them, let the principal know. She doesn't need to hear the whole dang sorry story but just the fact that you are curiously wondering why she is doing that. A good boss will either talk to her right away, or if they aren't sure as its her word against yours, then a boss will start to try and watch without being noticed by her to find out for themselves. Not all bosses think this way. So if it were me, I would add, "I don't mean to tell you how to do your job but I know its my word for hers. So if you'd like to eavesdrop on any of our work related conversations, then be my guest and see for yourself. YOU say If instead of 'you should' and this makes it a request, rather than sounding like you are telling the boss what to do. If things do not improve or the boss doesnt check into it, either you will have to go to the boss first and let her know what you and Lucy talked about and I would make that as immediately as possible. If lucy immediately is going to look for the principal, I would make sure to be there as well and as soon as you can blurt it out, say, "Hey, we both came up with another idea." Doing the right thing and giving both of you credit. If things don't improve, then I would suggest you no longer talk to her about work related things. If you want to talk at all, ask how her weekend was. If she asks you a question work related, tell her you are in the middle of something and she should go ask the boss. If she is trying to impress the boss again with something work related, you can't answer. Just look at her, don't answer her question and say, "I'll think about it. Now is there anything else? " If her anything else is also about work, you simply say, "I'll think about it." then think, and if you come up with an idea or solution to a problem, then don't share an inking with this gal, take it straight to the principal and get the only credit for it.
It's little things like this that end up also going into an employees folder and all of it can help when job promotions or a great reference is given for a new job. Keep track of these things yourself with what you wrote or said in case she doesn't share some of it for a reference at a new company/school. If besides the employees actions, you feel you'd be happier with a position where you do her job, then find out what may be lacking in your skills or experience and make sure you get that and then start looking for this position elsewhere. YOu can take your time until you find the perfect job reasonably close to get to, great boss and pay.
]
This person sounds like an incredibly insecure person who is doing this because they are unsure where they fit. It is your right to tell her the role you were hired for and what tasks are yours alone and what your role encompasses. If you feel she outright stole an idea or project you worked on and deserve credit for tell Human Resources. Odds are people are on to the kind of personality she has and what she’s doing. Be cordial with her but limit interaction and keep your head down with your work. Make the people who hired you aware of the situation and your ideas. Like the new principal this person may not be in your experience long term. Let the new principal know about your role, ideas that were passed off as hers and responsibilities that go with your role that she’s taken away from you and constantly says she’s taking projects off your hands for her to do alone. The principal should have an idea how to fix this situation and needs to be aware you are being bullied. That’s exactly what this amounts to.
]
More Questions: |