Dominant Personality....

[kellyg403]

After reading the thread on 'strong personalities' I thought of a co worker who is a 'dominant' personality. I am her supervisor and no matter how many times I tell her to slow her roll, or how many times you mention to her that you appreciate her hard work but there are decisions SHE IS JUST NOT ABLE TO MAKE WITHOUT PERMISSION she tends to go there anyway.

It has come to the point where she is probably going to have issues. The kind that will get her in trouble. For any of you who have worked with a dominant personality how do you get them to use their powers for good instead of evil. The girl does know what she is doing, is good at her job just has ZERO respect for boundaries which in the end causes problems. The big boss at this point is likening their working relationship to oil and water. You tell her not to do something, and the next thing you know everyone is doing it on her say so. And lots of times lately it has been wrong or even confidential information.

Yikes...I have never worked with someone so apt to cross the boundaries. Even when she is clearly wrong.

Kelly

 

[Ceila]

Document everything, and be completely direct with her. This kind of employee generally won't "take the hint." Have a meeting where you clearly lay out the expectations, where her role ends, and what the consequences are of going beyond her allowed decision making authority. Then follow through with disciplinary measures when she doesn't act appropriately. The direct route is the only route with someone like that. BTDT. Good luck - and keep the big boss informed of everything you do.

 

[Christine]

We've had one of these before. Very hard to control and they couldn't wait to get rid of her. Like you employee, her work was actually very good and she was a good worker.

I think honesty is the best. If you are her supervisor, you need to take her aside and have a mini "review" with her. Document it. Tell her all of her good points, but tell her that she is overstepping boundaries and give her examples. Tell her that despite her good qualities that behavior cannot be tolerated and she needs to rein it in.

 

[kellyg403]

This was my thought as well. I hate to lose her but at the same time thinking she needs to be in a different situation.

Kelly

 

[goofyernmost]

You are describing me! I am that personality. It isn't because I am just stubborn or intentionally crossing that line. The only reason I can think of is that I spent most of my life in charge. I was General Manager in two businesses, Vice-president of another, Owner of another. I then decided to slow down and ended up with a middle management position.

My propensity to just take charge is not a voluntary thing, it is a natural reaction to situations and years of always being the sole decision maker in most situations. When it is said that sometimes this person goes ahead with stuff even after being told differently and in spite of being wrong. Well, in my opinion wrong is a judgmental call. Just because an action differs from the "boss's" decision does not make it wrong in substance, just in politics. Sometimes boss's can be wrong too! I don't know if this is the case here, but it certainly is possible.

I work best on my own without a lot of over the shoulder observation. I attempt to have my boss give me projects that I can run with. In my years of management, one of the things I discovered when dealing with employee's is that there is more than one way to accomplish the same thing.

If this employee is truly causing problems that are hurting the business (really) or causing demoralization of the remaining staff then it would be necessary to give a final warning and if it isn't followed, they need to be taken out of that position. JMHO!

 

[kellyg403]

You are describing me! I am that personality. It isn't because I am just stubborn or intentionally crossing that line. The only reason I can think of is that I spent most of my life in charge. I was General Manager in two businesses, Vice-president of another, Owner of another. I then decided to slow down and ended up with a middle management position.

My propensity to just take charge is not a voluntary thing, it is a natural reaction to situations and years of always being the sole decision maker in most situations. When it is said that sometimes this person goes ahead with stuff even after being told differently and in spite of being wrong. Well, in my opinion wrong is a judgmental call. Just because an action differs from the "boss's" decision does not make it wrong in substance, just in politics. Sometimes boss's can be wrong too! I don't know if this is the case here, but it certainly is possible.

I work best on my own without a lot of over the shoulder observation. I attempt to have my boss give me projects that I can run with. In my years of management, one of the things I discovered when dealing with employee's is that there is more than one way to accomplish the same thing.

If this employee is truly causing problems that are hurting the business (really) or causing demoralization of the remaining staff then it would be necessary to give a final warning and if it isn't followed, they need to be taken out of that position. JMHO!

Yes, in the beginning I wondered if possibly it was because she was used to being in charge as it were it many aspects of her life. It bothered the main boss more than me until recently it became a question of doing things incorrectly and then finding out she was forwarding incorrect information. Her take charge attitude is great...when done correctly. I would love to keep her but recently it has become harder and harder to squelch the the misinformation. It has crossed the line from a take charge attitude to I don't care what the rules are, this is the way it should be handled.

Thanks for all the info. I do like her, and in many ways if I just could get her to understand the boundaries it would be great. But, I don't think she understands there is a middle ground and that is the part that is causing the most problems. She needs to stop, ask questions and then move forward. She has fallen into the trap of just moving forward without knowing what the rules are.

Kelly

 

[okeydokey]

You are describing me! I am that personality. It isn't because I am just stubborn or intentionally crossing that line. The only reason I can think of is that I spent most of my life in charge. I was General Manager in two businesses, Vice-president of another, Owner of another. I then decided to slow down and ended up with a middle management position.

My propensity to just take charge is not a voluntary thing, it is a natural reaction to situations and years of always being the sole decision maker in most situations. When it is said that sometimes this person goes ahead with stuff even after being told differently and in spite of being wrong. Well, in my opinion wrong is a judgmental call. Just because an action differs from the "boss's" decision does not make it wrong in substance, just in politics. Sometimes boss's can be wrong too! I don't know if this is the case here, but it certainly is possible.

I work best on my own without a lot of over the shoulder observation. I attempt to have my boss give me projects that I can run with. In my years of management, one of the things I discovered when dealing with employee's is that there is more than one way to accomplish the same thing.

If this employee is truly causing problems that are hurting the business (really) or causing demoralization of the remaining staff then it would be necessary to give a final warning and if it isn't followed, they need to be taken out of that position. JMHO!

No, when the boss tells you to do A and then you do B because you think it's better, you are wrong. You should do A. If you don't want to listen to the boss, then you find a new job. We have fired people for this type of behavior.

 

[goofyernmost]

No, when the boss tells you to do A and then you do B because you think it's better, you are wrong. You should do A. If you don't want to listen to the boss, then you find a new job. We have fired people for this type of behavior.

No, I'm not saying that anyone is correct in doing the opposite of what is asked, in a business situation. What I am saying is that on occasion what is asked is the incorrect direction to go. Now in that case, I would argue my case and state that I felt it was wrong and why, but many times these situations arise previous to being told the accepted procedure. It give the same appearance of not following orders even though the orders have never officially been given. It is quite complex and not really relevant to this particular situation. However, that said, I would bet that if the "maverick" employee counteracted a direction and it came out good, you wouldn't be hearing much in the line of objection from above.

I would be willing to bet that one could go on for months citing examples of how lower level employee's sometimes do what is necessary instead of what is demanded. Upper management positions sometimes tend to lose a firm grasp on what is really happening and think that everything they request is being carried out to the letter. I have yet to see that happen in any business I have ever been involved with. The people in the field have their fingers on the pulse a lot more often then those sitting back in their leather office chair spouting directives.

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, then the people in the field need to apprise their boss of the changes in a respectful professional manner so that the boss can change their perception or work flow. They do not need to make a decidely different decision as an underling because "they" think it is the best thing to do.

I am an underling, not a boss. I have been blessed with a boss who will listen when I bring up issues or try to professionally point out that there might be a different way to do things or "here's what's going on in the field right now, Do you still want me to proceed as you instructed?". And yes, there have been times when the boss has listened and changed things and there have been times when she has said " I understand what you're saying and understand your concerns but I am privy to information that you are not that also impacts this situation which is why we need to do ti this way".

 

[Wishing on a star]

Well, whether it is outright dis-obeying of standing protocol and bosses orders, or even just constant 'questioning' the boss, and constant 'friction'.

There is a name for this, and it is insubordination.
Yes, this is a fireable offense.
In my experiences, this would eventually result in dismissal.

Doesn't matter if the intentions are good.
The road to he-double-hockeysticks is paved with good intentions.

There are people out there who are competent workers who will not be insubordinate.

 

[dr_zero]

No, I'm not saying that anyone is correct in doing the opposite of what is asked, in a business situation. What I am saying is that on occasion what is asked is the incorrect direction to go. Now in that case, I would argue my case and state that I felt it was wrong and why, but many times these situations arise previous to being told the accepted procedure. It give the same appearance of not following orders even though the orders have never officially been given. It is quite complex and not really relevant to this particular situation. However, that said, I would bet that if the "maverick" employee counteracted a direction and it came out good, you wouldn't be hearing much in the line of objection from above.

I would be willing to bet that one could go on for months citing examples of how lower level employee's sometimes do what is necessary instead of what is demanded. Upper management positions sometimes tend to lose a firm grasp on what is really happening and think that everything they request is being carried out to the letter. I have yet to see that happen in any business I have ever been involved with. The people in the field have their fingers on the pulse a lot more often then those sitting back in their leather office chair spouting directives.

You are spot on!

Ever hear the saying that the sergeant's run the army its not far from the truth.