How to manage my co staff????

Question

I have just passed in an interview and appointed for a clerical post in an NGO last week. Actually the higher level staff of that NGO from their head office have interviewd me and selected me for that post. But when I entered to the branch office (Which is my duty station), I was treated very badly by the head and other staff of that branch.

Actually they were not informed about my appointment by the head office staff, therefore they were not mentaly prepared to receive me within a short notice. Secondly, they felt that they were not respected by their head office staff as the branch office was not involved in any part of the selection process. There are some ego problems between the branch and head office staff, which is affecting me very badly.

The branch office manager dose not want to receive me at all. She is condemning my experience and educational level (Infact, I meet all the selection criteria). She compares my talents, my physical appearence and other things with her other staff. She strongly beleives that I got this post because of my sister's influence (My sister is a very famous NGO manager, but she did not influenced me for this post), therefore they always negatively talk about my sister, which I can not bear.

They are testing my level of tolerance, and it is very hard to start a new work with this type of enviroment.

I have already contaceted my head office and informed this, so they clearely told my manager that she has to accept me... But still she is behaving negatively with me... Hope you understand my problems.

I am financially not poor, so I can always throw this job away and come back. But I want some work experience, and I feel this organization is really good to gain more experience.

Secondly, I feel that I have been punished by this manager without any of my mistakes, therefore I have to teach a lesson top her before I leave. Otherwise it will affect my sister's career as well as my career.

Please help me to win this situation. I am only in the second day of my working life.

Answer 1

You have analyzed your situation and have reached a conclusion about the way you are treated.  Based on the information you have provided I would conclude you are correct except that while your sister may not have influenced the hiring decision her reputation may have helped you get the job.

You are correct in that they are testing your tolerance.  The only plan you have is to punish the manager.  After doing such a fine job of analyzing your situation your thought on how to deal with it is poorly thought out and as reactive as their reaction is to you.  

I conclude you want to stay and gain the experience.  This is unlikely to happen if you plan on engaging in guerrilla warfare with your boss.  You are more likely to end up getting fired or at a minimum quitting in anger allowing the manager to give future references about how you are not a team player as well as adding a few more things to the faults of your sister.  You need to develop a better plan.

First, their reaction to you is normal and predictable.  You need to be patient and see if it lasts. After all this has only been two days.

Second, be friendly.  Try to make friends one at a time.  Settle in for the long haul.  Recognize that some may never like you.

Third, show you are a team player.  Do the work you are assigned and do it as well as you can.

Fourth, try to develop trust.  Do not enlist the help of the people that hired you or ask your sister to get involved.  This is your fight and others cannot make your co-workers like you.  This does not mean you cannot talk with your sister and ask for advice as to how to handle the situation.  If she is truly a successful manager then she has people skills.

The chill you are experiencing may last a long time and may never go away.  The hope here is that the people are reacting to a situation they do not like.  What you are seeing is a very human reaction to their dissatisfaction.  At some point they may see that you are not the criminal here but the victim and things may change.

I would not advice you trying to "teach a lesson" to your manager."  You are not in a power position.  If your sister is what you say she is she is capable of taking care of herself.  I believe behavior in an organization is the same thing you see on a school ground.  In other words managing an organization is like raising children.  

The only thing that I think requires a response are the negatives about your sister.  I am not suggesting you run to her defense.  You are not going to change their thoughts and as long as you react the behavior will continue.  But you have the right to demand that they not speak them in front of you.  If they will not honor your request and you are in the right situation excuse yourself and go someplace else.

Finally, and most importantly always be professional, let other engage in childish behavior.

Answer 2

Go back to your office, do your work to the best of your abilities. And talk to us again after three months, not 2 days.  And what they say about your sister, is apperently having the desired effect, "you get upset."  Forget it, it is not worth your pain and suffering.

Peace.