Dealing with a crazy team leader
By proslots01
@proslots01 (70)
Singapore
July 17, 2007 8:18pm CST
Unfortunately he is my team leader at work, and I have to deal with his mental antics day after day, even when I'm down with high fever since Sunday night. The doc examined me on Monday and concluded that I either had influenza/viral fever, or dengue (due to the high temperature), and requested that I monitor the temperature while taking meds for viral fever. If there was no letting up, the advice was to proceed straight to a hospital for a dengue blood test.
So that was what I informed my reporting officer (RO) at work, and the next thing I knew, I had 'reports' from co-workers that my team leader (TL) was getting hysterical in the office and telling everyone that I had dengue and that he was under stress because of that. Naturally, I sent a msg to my RO to clarify my condition, and mentioned that I heard reports of my team leader being hysterical. Well, obviously she must have forwarded the msg to him verbatim, as I was greeted with one from the TL stating that he was not hysterical. hahahah
What came next was even more ridiculous. He said "Hey, A (the other colleague of mine in our team of 3) is praying hard that you recover... BECAUSE he doesn't want to do your job of the secretariat on Friday! ha ha ha" Wow! What he didn't know was that A already knew my condition and wasn't in the least bit bothered! Of course, A was pretty irritated when he realised the TL had put words into his mouth.
Then, another colleague B (not in our team) told me that my TL approached him and queried if he was the one who had told me what'd happened (my TL losing his head and running around telling everyone I had dengue). For the rest of the day, my TL put on a long face and showed his displeasure to B.
And this is just ONE day of my daily (mis)adventures with my TL.
2 people like this
3 responses
@proslots01 (70)
• Singapore
19 Jul 07
Thanks for the advice, sid556! I have tried doing that, but the problem is there're only 3 of us in the team (incl. him), and I'm the next in line in terms of project seniority, so they've put a lot of tasks on me. Which then amazes me why he should treat me like this - I do my work, and I do it well, if you're my team leader, manage and treat me well and you'll get great results. Why mess around with me like that? Because of him, I've developed high blood pressure.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
18 Jul 07
proslots, I wouldn't suggest you do as I did as I had many years of service behind me with a perfect record, they didn't have a thing on me, plus I was friends with the union boss, if I hadn't have had that I would not have been able to do what I did, unfortunately today with the unemployment and whatever bosses and teamleaders have it all their own way, I guess you unfortunately just have to work but never let them get anything on you, I hope things work out for you because I for one believe people spend so much time working they should at least be happy doing it....best of luck to you my friend...
@proslots01 (70)
• Singapore
18 Jul 07
Thanks for the advice lilaclady - I too tried to concentrate on my work, but it's unbelievable how this crazy guy just loves to jump on everyone, even his own team who he needs at the end of the day. And not to mention who got him where he is in the first place. It's sad.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
18 Jul 07
Oh I know all about teamleaders monster egos, when I was working teamleaders all seem to be over egotystical monsters, I had worked for a Goverment department for years so I had a lot of years up on most teamleaders so I was their worst nightmare, I was one that wouldn't put up with any unfairness and seeing as the union rep at the time used to work with me some years before, i was on very good terms with, all the newer staff who were on contracts were frightened to go to the union as their contract would be terminated and they really were treated unfairly so they would come to me and I would do the standing up for them with management and then if management wouldn't put a stop to it I would call the union in, this I would only do when I knew someone was being treated badly and knowing I could get away with it, when I finally took a voluntary redundancy it was nice when I heard a male staff member say " who is going to stand up for us now" I felt maybe i did something for a few people. So I know how you feel...
@proslots01 (70)
• Singapore
18 Jul 07
That's very honourable of you, lilaclady, and I really respect that! I wonder how I should stand up to this particular guy, as I realised my reporting officer is in cahoots with him (they need each other to do the dirty work). Quite often I feel like leaving the place, feeling my work being undermined (the TL goes around telling everyone he is barely surviving as the team does not perform, but see how he treats us, and really, we have been doing all the work for him while he just concentrates on one or two issues for a coupla months). The director doesn't bother about such issues too as he's been known, and frankly I don't think it's a place I want to stay for too long. But it's difficult to find another job now in such a position over here (project manager) - most are looking for technical positions within this industry (IT).
