Power struggle at work - please advise?

Question

I'm having problems at work - a new guy has been given the role of coordinator for a project. he has to provide us with the tools to present it. The spreadsheets don't work, he's fallen over on loads of areas and ignored us when we've asked for things to be fixed.

I look after my team and in order to deliver on time we've all been working late and coming at weekends to overcome the obstacles (eg faults in project plannner he's supposed to have fixed) and making loads of manual updates.

now it's all over, he's trying to take credit for it all running smoothly - which it didn't, for us or the other teams. I've since requested a formal overhaul which has been granted, with lots of supprt and now he's really p*d off with me.

he's generally lazy, spends most of his time online or smoking or chatting. now he's got some work to do, but it will be better for everyone else.

how do I handle it without succumbing to his jibes and power struggle?

he's started sending out email to my boss being quite snide.

Answer 1

Get some one in your team to keep records of the problems you encounter under his so called leadership.

I can't see how you just can't call a meeting of some kind with the bosses when you have a large team of people behind you with the same gripe towards that lazy bum.

What happened to majority rule and us being democratic.

Play this record to help you focus.

Its the Bob Marley song,,,, Get up Stand up, stand up for your rights.

You must know of that one.

I hope it inspires you as i am sure it has others over many years and years.

Answer 2

Trust me when I tell you I can relate to your headache.  My advice to you is to have someone with you when you talk to him....Someone preferable that is not your friend at work...and explain to him what went wrong and how you feel about the whole project.   If this doesnt work then go to your boss and have a conference with the new guy and your boss.  

If you feel this conversation shouldnt take place then my advice is to just keep quiet and continue working....as I said I can relate i have my share of headache with coworkers who are angry with me because they failed to accomplish their work due to high volume of chitchat and I had to inform my boss of their productivity, on top of that they had made so many errors which I didnt had to mention to my boss because the bigger boss told him, so either way if I told him of their work or not or any error my boss was going to find out.....i am not a squealer just had to do my part as a supervisor.....good luck dear.  

Answer 3

In all such circumstances it is best to ignore jibes and snide remarks, unless they are made in public.  If they are made in public, you have an opportunity to put him down.  Whether or not your decide to take up that opportunity, depends on whether you think it is good to "be careful of who you offend".  

It is the easiest thing in the world to be provoked into putting down a pest in public, and humiliating them.  It is wiser, to let them be snide, and have their jibes, and even humour their way by asking them to elaborate on the issue.  Listen to what he has to say, and make no comment or judgement.  Listening requires you to demonstrate you have heard.

Messages to you boss are fine, he no doubt has a similar opinion of the chap.  If your boss asks you for details, just make out like everything is your fault and you'll deal with it.  

Never criticise, or attack the "sniper".  Never take any of his comments personally, and deflect any blows by being humble.