How much are you willing to teach your new colleague ?
By GaryJoule
@GaryJoule (211)
China
September 23, 2009 10:44pm CST
These days one problem runs through my head occasionally. One new colleague has joined my team for months and she is the type of quick-learner. I'm assigned as mentor to lead her onto the way. At the first several days I'm happy to teach her everything including professional skill, technical experience etc. But it's not a long time till I realized some potential risk that if I teach her everything I know, she can replace my position completely then, where's my work value? afterward how can I request to promote or salary raise? I will lose my bargaining chip. I must keep something for myself and keep away from her at some point. But if I do it like that, it's very hard to get along well with this colleague.
Have you guys ever faced this kinda case? how did you deal well with it? Your response is highly appreciated. Thanks.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@Graceekwenx (3160)
• Philippines
24 Sep 09
i understand your predicament. It is as if you would be easily replaced and that your student would soon be your competitor.
I would like to think of it the other way. Without me, he wouldnt be enjoying his new self right now. I would be very proud as much as i am threatened. Just keep this in mind, learning is a growing process. If you think that you have taught him too much; this should empower you to learn other things and be innovative so that you would always have an edge. Good luck my friend.. You are the mentor and no one can top you better than yourself. he is not a threat to you. You are a threat to yourself so challenge yourself more.
@GaryJoule (211)
• China
24 Sep 09
"you are a threat to yourself so challenge yourself more", Good point!
Indeed I don't want to be selfish so less care for my colleagues around. It's just one thing hold me back that my former mentor trained me nothing and kept everything for herself so I had a very hard time to grow up to who I am now. This make me confused at well balancing friends, colleagues and competitors.
@Graceekwenx (3160)
• Philippines
24 Sep 09
dear gary... i had the same sentiments too... when i was new in the company, my boss or supervisor never taught me. everything was learned thru discovery process. when my old boss resigned and then i was given a new boss. She noticed that i had not been training my staff and wondered why i do such. i replied that i did everything on my own and nobody taught me, then why should my staff be treated any better? she replied, then that is selfishness! the secret to being a boss is not just knowing what your staff does but knowing something while developing something else that others cannot do. That way, you will really become indispensable.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
20 Oct 09
Well this can be quite an issue these days especially when jobs are harder to come by even. It always seems like there are people who come in who are the quick learners and want to learn everything to where you start to wonder are you going too far for sure. What might be in your Best interest is to see what she is wanting out of this position and company and is she out to get you or just wanting to learn and be there to help out? Sometimes even when they learn quickly they are often harmless unless your Boss would see it otherwise as well. Either way I hope she is just an extra asset and not a ploy for your job, or other jobs as well.
@GaryJoule (211)
• China
20 Oct 09
Thanks for your response.
Indeed it's a bit difficult to make certain she's wanting out of this position then get me or just wanting to learn and be there to help out.
Even without her help I can't get my work done well. That's just why this annoy all the time.
@maui_gomez_lim (1017)
• Philippines
24 Sep 09
If it's an assigned task which is still part of my function, I am more than willing to train the new colleague. However, if it is not, then I have to raise my question first especially if it complicates or intervenes my work-at-hand.
@GaryJoule (211)
• China
24 Sep 09
Yeah, training new colleague is part of my job. But the current situation is there is no tools to measure the training result. How quickly the new colleague make progress is somewhat up to me. If give her fully support, I can push her grow up to a qualified engineer in a year or less time. Meantime I can stay away just occasionally give a glimpse and let her study by herself as well. I have to make a choice.
