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Topic: Turf issues with new colleague

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UGoGirl Posted – 9/3/2008 4:41:07 PM | show profile
Here's the situation. I work a branch office of a company. We just found out that someone from corporate has hired a new person to work in our branch office, against the desires (not sure how clearly this was stated to corporate, if at all) of the local office. This new hire will technically work for corporate but out of the branch office.

Two people have already warned me about this new hire. She has no experience in the issue I am focusing on, but has been hired to work on that issue. I will find out more about her from a friend who works at her current employer. She wouldn't put anything in email but said "We'll TALK!". And two people in my office have kind of warned me about her.

The sense I'm getting is that she's political, and a ladder climber, not a very nice person, and is moving onto the issue I'm working on as its the issue du jour. One local office person said they're going to push her into an office far away from the rest of the group she's supposed to be affiliated with (they don't like her and don't want to work with her). It doesn't bode well.

So any suggestions on how to approach or work with this person? Do I approach this open-mindedly and see if we as colleagues can work together? Or do I treat her with kid gloves. In some senses, she's been brought on by corporate to work on an issue I'm already focusing on (and not sure yet if there's enough work to go around).

My sense is I should just not worry about her but also not cozy up too much with her, and I will keep doing my thing and let her figure out what her thing is. But perhaps I'm naive.

Anyone have experiences like this?
writerchic Posted – 9/3/2008 6:12:15 PM | show profile
Sorry you're going through this. Ladder-climbers should always be treated tentatively. While you don't want to prejudge her based on what others say, you shouldn't turn a blind eye. If she has been brought in to work on the same issue as you, she may try to edge you out, take the lead or credit for your work. You're the competition. My advice is to watch your back. I've worked with too many of these kind of people not to be a bit paranoid for you. Good luck and be careful.
mkelly Posted – 9/3/2008 6:17:09 PM | show profile
So... you work for the Republican National Committee, your boss is John McCain, and you're talking about Sarah Palin, right?
UGoGirl Posted – 9/3/2008 7:38:12 PM | show profile
Ah...mkelly... you didn't buy my thinly veiled disguise!!
milkmilklemonade Posted – 9/3/2008 10:01:36 PM | show profile
As a ladder climber myself my only advice is to step up your game. Get better clothes, do your makeup, wear heals, and write the most amazing stories every single time. Also, get to know the competition. Pretend you're heading the sorority and she's a new recruit. Find out about her family, education, boyfriend status, etc. Pretend you're supportive, but be careful not to give away any sources or trade secrets. It may make you want to vomit, but there's a way to do it. With enough knowledge you can find out what her weaknesses are and stab her in the back.

Doing this will do two things. First, you're able to give the appearance that you're a "team player." A person that everyone likes often wind up in management. Second, you'll be able to get close to the competition without her knowing what you're doing.

I'm sure you already know people who do the things that I described above. If you're not comfortable with it, then you're human. At least know you know what's happening when someone does it to you.
Louisewasnothalfbad Posted – 9/4/2008 1:37:00 AM | show profile
"The sense I'm getting is that she's political, and a ladder climber, not a very nice person, and is moving onto the issue I'm working on as its the issue du jour"

So, do you normally follow conventional wisdom, or do you investigate and trust your own judgment?

Maybe your informants don't want to see you work well with the new hire.
consider Posted – 9/4/2008 1:41:27 AM | show profile
I advise you to gather the facts before you determine how to proceed with this woman. All you've got now is hearsay.

Good reporters can pick up on people's character traits - sometimes with the right questions, and sometimes by shutting up and watching and listening and taking mental notes.

Put on your reporter hat tomorrow.
UGoGirl Posted – 9/4/2008 8:48:31 AM | show profile
hmm.... wear makeup and heals. People would think I came in from another planet. But good to know that's how she might be thinking...

I will try to be open-minded about her, and pay close attention, keep some of my cards close at hand for a while. Thanks all.
WordyBird Posted – 9/4/2008 11:30:49 AM | show profile
Gossip says more about the people spreading it than about the person who is the victim of it. Take it with a grain of salt and decide for yourself--and watch out for "friends" who are quick to tear someone else down. They may turn the knife on you, next.
Canadiana Posted – 9/4/2008 12:27:48 PM | show profile
I disagree about gossip being meaningless (or whatever you said as there's not "quote" option here). I am working as the online editor for a publication and had been warned about the mag's editor. She made good on the warnings and is turning out to be a manipulative two-faced you-know-what.

Of course not everyone will live up (or down) to the gossip but it's usually got a degree of truth to it: find out for yourself but be forewarned.
caitlinkelly Posted – 9/4/2008 1:38:48 PM | show profile
If she is being brought in to work on "your" issue, frankly, that would make me nervous. Can you ask, discreetly and without sounding paranoid, why they suddenly feel they need additional help -- you say you think there's not even enough work to go around. I'd be more concerned about the perception you are not doing enough or doing it well enough than who she is and what she'll do next.

I'd also, from her first day, keep a paper trail (not on your office computer) of all her accomplishments and of yours so if any credit is falsely claimed, you have detailed notes to refer to.
UGoGirl Posted – 9/7/2008 12:17:15 PM | show profile
The plot thickens, and I feel like I'm living in some kind of sit-com. Hard working, but not very glittery employee spends a couple of years chasing after very small, but choice assignments, and has been developing an expertise and getting some attention. Suddenly, ladder-climbing newcomer hired out of nowhere.

Finally, a very major assignment comes on the horizon and ladder climbing newcomer is slated for "major" role on this very major assignment (though she has no experience) while hard-working employee is relegated to a more minor role.

So although hard-working employee usually shops for her clothes at the consignment store (an environmentally good choice), she steps out of her usual pattern of fairly dark and nondescript clothes, and buys a few bright semi-stylish NEW articles at semi-fashionable store, spending more in one day than she has in a year or two on her wardrobe.

This is rediculous and I know it.

To be fair, I think the company wants to expand our capabilities in this area and doesn't at all want to replace me but just wants to expand on some of the stuff I've done and bring more people in to the fold.

But I should've made it clear and been direct that I wanted a large role on this "choice" major assignment that may be coming up (in truth, I didn't realize she was slated for a major role on it until late in the game, and for all the people knew who put the team together, I was already fully booked, which I'm not).

I think it will work out, but I can now see that I need to be more assertive in looking out for my own interests and not assuming that others will. (Although when I expressed this frustration about this choice assignment with my supervisor, he wanted to send it up the chain as he felt it isn't right... I instead took the initiative to voice some of those concerns myself, diplomatically and without pointing out the more significant role of this newcomer, and I think it will work out.)
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