Vent - Co-Workers questioning my work

[goudaman40]

Sorry for the Vent - but I need some help / feedback.

Last Wednesday my boss told me to think about the project I am working on and the team and to discuss things with him on Monday.

A little background information . . . I started my position in October and my teams leader received a promotion, so we were given a new leader. Well the "new leader" accepted another position so that left my team leaderless. My boss came to me and asked if I would be the new leader (this was on a Friday). I accepted the new position and notified the team of the change. Everyone was happy and congratulated me. One of our team members was out, so he was notified when he returned the following Tuesday. This other team member voiced his concern that I wasn't familar enough with the product and that the "team" was upset that they weren't included in the decision. So, I was taking out of the position of leader and an upper management person was made leader of our team.

Flash forward to today . . . apparently the "team" thinks that I am not asking/doing what is necessary to come to analytical conclusions on customer issues. The team went to my boss, while I was out of town on business, and told him that they didn't feel I was doing my job. They felt that I was unable to get information from customers and troubleshoot problems before I went to the team for questions/assistance. The problem with the "team", is that I do ask the customer questions and gather as much information and troubleshoot until I come to a roadblock and then at that time I go to the team with the issue. The problem is that a paticular person on the "team" doesn't believe me when I explain the problem and that I have been unable to reproduce problems and have gotten as much information from the customer as possible.

The way I feel, is ever since the leader change up, this paticular person has begun to question my decisions, my other projects that I am working on and constantly questioning how my time is handled during the day. This person that I am talking about is not my boss nor even in the same department as I am. It is that this person is very vocal and get's their way when they have a problem. So instead of coming to me with "concerns" this person went directly to my boss and now my boss is questioning my analytical skills.

How do I handle this. I have spoken with my boss and explained the paticular customer issue that the "team" is questioning my analytical skills on. I have explained completely all of the troubleshooting that I have done and that when I went to the team with my conclusions that they didn't believe me because this issue has never been seen before.

I can't afford to lose my job, but I am at a loss on how I can convince this team that I am capable of doing my job and that I am able to handle the customers without incident.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

My first thought is that you need to sit down with the coworker who is going above you and have a little chat. Some of the items I would discuss would include: why these bad feelings, please come to me when you have an issue before you go above me, how can get on the same page, etc.

I have coworkers that use to try to blow me in any chance they got. Luckily my boss knew that there were personality issues involved and basically ignored them (though he let me know so I could address it with the individuals and it has since stopped and they come to me now if they think something is wrong or need additional information).

Basically, I try to treat my coworkers how I would like to be treated.

If you feel you can't talk to this coworker, then discuss the situation with your supervisor and keep good notes about interactions with the coworker.

 

[goudaman40]

Thanks for the feedback Miss Jasmine.

It was told to me that the team I am on is very difficult to work with. That the "head" person is extremely difficult. I haven't had any problems with this person until recently. This person even made a comment that they "don't work well with others". It just really irratates me, because my boss made the comment that if these concerns were voiced by any other team, he would blow it off; but since it came from the team that I am on, he is a little concerned.

I know that I don't fit well with the other team members after working hours. I am about 5 years older than the other members except for the two senior members. One of the senior members is going through their "twenties" again and the other person comes in late, takes a 2 hour lunch and leaves early, but no one says anything to this person because leadership is "scared" of losing this person.

Before the switch-up fiasco, I got along great with everyone. Its just now I feel as if I get the cold shoulder from this person; and this person can be a "cancer" towards other members. It just irratates me that this person didn't come to me with these issues. Just about a month ago, this person was praising my customer skills to my boss and now they are questioning my skills.

I just want to go up to this person and tell them/ask them what are the exact issues, but this person will not give you the time of day because of "work" and they don't have time to discuss issues. Now keep in mind, this is the same person that will state "I don't feel like working now, lets do x or y to make the time go by".

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Maybe you could discuss this over lunch (as the coworker to go get a bite with you). I would really try to make an effort. I mean you can't force the person to talk, but I also wouldn't take no for an answer at first.

Also I would have an issue with managment since, if I read this right, they put you in charge of the team and then took it away. That underminded you on this team and helped set you up for these issues.

 

[goudaman40]

I have had an issue with management and I was asked at that time if I wanted to move to another team, because managment was concerned that there would be tension with the other team members. I explained that I didn't have a problem with the team members and that I understood that they were looking at the short term issues that could potentially come up the project and that it was "good" for the entire team. What really "chaps my hide" is that this paticular person even made the comment that they didn't want me leave to another team, because they felt I was a good fit and they weren't sure if they could find someone to take over on the team if I went to another team. I know that this team is hard to deal with (my position was advertised for 6 months, before they filled the position with me).

I have thought about asking this person to discuss things over lunch, but the problem is this person leaves tomorrow for business and won't return until the end of the month. I am afraid that things could fester with this person during that time, because they are in contact with all of the other team members after working hours. I don't have contact with anyone after working hours because I haven't been invited to anything outside of working hours. I have made attempts to get involved after hours, but have not really had any good feedback. It is a really tight group and extremely hard to penetrate (they are all friends outside of work and have been for 5 plus years).

I have to go to my boss on Wednesday with a "solution" that he can take back to the team members so I can gather their trust again. I am constantly brining work home with me, so I can be more efficient and have a quieter enviroment to work in without too many interuptions! Ugh!