My co-worker wont let me do my job. Ideas please!!?

Question

I was hired as a manager to take another staff member's place when she changed positions in the company. I am now the Information Manager and she is the Sales Manager. We are on the same level with only the Executive Director above us. The difference though, is I manage a staff of 3 and she does not have any staff. I'm having problems with her going to my staff and giving them assignments when I have already given them a list of things they need to do that day. She tells them she needs her projects finished by the end of the day, so the projects I need them to do get pushed aside, or I end up doing them myself along with the things I need to do. I have started to talk to her about it but she interrupts me and says that if I have an issue I need to take it up with the Executive Director and walks off. I have mentioned it to him but he says as long as things are getting done, he doesn't see the problem. My other problem with her is she is constantly in my office trying to tell me how to do my job and telling me what I need to get done. Things I already know and usually have about half done when she comes over. I've tried the 'Thank you for the advice I will certainly take it into consideration when I make my decision comment' but she ignores it and keeps talking. I do not know where to go from here and need some ideas if anyone has any. Thank you..

Answer 1

stop doing the work you give your co workers to do.  your boss is right , as long as things get done he is ok with everything.  make him see that things are not ok.  

as for her coming in your office,  shut the door and lock it..  

Answer 2

Sounds like it is all in Your hands, esp. no help from your supervisor. Some people are just the kind that want to act like they are in charge.

You have got to Stand up and be the professional you are, and say enough is enough. I am in Charge!!!!! By doing this, it will confirm your position and actually gain you some respect too. Don't put up with that stuff, Stand Up...........

Answer 3

You need to have a staff meeting with only the people you supervise.  Communication is the absolute most important tool for everyone.  You are going to be the one giving them performance evaluations, they need to easily give you feedback and hear the same from you all the time.

Go over each person's assignments, together in a group, emphasizing you are their supervisor and their mentor.  

Stop trying to undermine her role/past experience as their supervisor.  Set specific goals for the day, enable your staff to achieve those goals.  Where you can, work her tasks into the daily tasks.  Don't push her out, close her off, or otherwise try to stop her.  You'll only create a negative, hostile environment.  

If your staff have work of their own from you, her other tasks will get done as they have time for.  But if your staff are free and able to help her, recognize the teamwork environment is much more productive.  

Be the adult.  Listen to her when you can and take everything with a grain of salt.   Be Polite, Be Productive, Be Professional.  

Answer 4

You need to stand up to that b*tch of a sales manager. She thinks that because she has seniority that its ok to take over your staff and boss you around. ...and I think she is dumping her work on your staff because she is spending too much time bossing you around.

The next time she does any of this c**p, dish it back at her.

When she dumps her c**p on your staff, take it away from them and give it back to her. She'll probably get mad, when she does just tell her that the staff are not hers to assign work to and if she needs them to help her she must get your approval first.

Everytime she comes in your office telling you how to do your job tell her you know what you're doing and don't need her to constantly harass you about it. This is also a good time to tell her that if she wasn't spending so much time in your office that she would have plenty of time to do her work herself rather than constantly dumping it on your staff. If she doesn't get that last little hint tell her she needs to stay in her own office doing her own work rather than dumping it on your staff because she's spending her time bossing you around. ...and if that doesn't get it...like someone else said...shut the door and lock it.

Answer 5

Stop doing your staffs work so your boss won't see that everything is OK

and ask her to leave you alone and say you know how to do your job

If she the says something back think of something and be prepared