So, in one of my previous employment, I had this new Supervisor that will always steal my thunder. That is to say, he is always running solo with my work ideas and whatever I do to make the job easy. He would never give me credit instead, he would paint me to be a liability and the weak link.
One major problem we had was the issue of finance, I am the one who does all the work, his own is basically to go through what I have done and then approve. He has no idea how the job is being executed as he's hardly ever around, but then he would want to dictate in the most unfavorable of ways on how to carry out work operations.
Let say, for example, ten thousand Naira will get the job done, he will slash the money and ask me to use three thousand Naira to get the job done.
When I refer him to previous receipts on how the job has been done, he will pick offense and report me for insubordination.
To avoid any confrontations between us, I started following his orders and it started affecting the job. Delivery was delayed and people started complaining up to the point it got to the board of trustees and thus, they called us in for questioning.
“What is going on in your department? Why are mails not getting to the recipients on time?” Our Managing Director (MD) questioned.
“Sir it's Ese, ever since I assumed the position of the Director of that department, Ese has frustrated all my efforts in changing things positively and making it go the right way.” This response from my supervisor came as a shock to me.
I had wanted to speak in my defense, but then the MD questioned again, inquiring how things are being done in my department as regards logistics. Before I could respond, being that I'm the logistics personnel and had been on the job longer, my Supervisor again jumped on the question and spewed more lies.
“The moment I assumed office, I called Ese to give me briefings on how everything works with the delivery process, and she said, when the mails have been sorted and ready for dispatch, she will first go to the various Transport companies to confirm how much each logistics will cost, and then relate with the Senior Admin Officer for disbursement of fund.
I wasn't comfortable with that arrangement, as it's a waste of fund. Being an Engineer, I was privileged to run a 6months professional class on Business administration, so I know a bad business arrangement when I see one.”
At this particular point eh, I was mad angry! I was boiling, and I wasn't going to let my Supervisor throw me under the bus just like that over an issue that was his fault. Just as he was about to continue with more lies, I picked him.
“I beg to differ, sir”, I responded as loudly as I could.
“What do you mean you beg to differ, what do you want to say that I have not already said?” My Supervisor fired back in the most defensive of ways, but I wasn't intimidated.
Before the meeting, I have been reporting all my challenges with him to my friend in the administrative department of the Nigerian Navy, and he has been coaching me on how to handle days like this.
He would always ask me to photocopy all documents and create a file so that I can have my copies of everything.
He went further to inform me that whenever there's a call for any meeting, I should go with the file as my defense. So, I went to that meeting prepared.
“First of all, good day to everyone present.” I greeted, then continued as calmly as I could get myself to be.
“I have some disagreements with the information that my Director is dishing out.” As I spoke, I brought out my file with all receipts showing the numerical weight in KG of all mails delivered. I passed them round for everyone to see then questioned, “how is it possible for the various logistics companies to give me an amount on packages they haven't weighed?”
There was dead silence as no one could answer. At that moment, I started with my report on how my Supervisor has been frustrating the job for me, and claiming credit for my good work.
These I did with paper evidence that my Supervisor could not deny. He just kept quiet and when I was done talking, our MD asked us to go and fix our department because clearly we have a case of disunity.
The meeting was dismissed, but my Supervisor was asked to remain. As my colleague and I exited the conference room, she came up with an unsolicited advice, telling me not to challenge my Superior next time because I will be perceived as rude.
My anger wanted to brew again, but I took in a deep breath and exhaled calmly, then I asked her to go and advise my Supervisor to act in his position.
At that point, I was ready for anything, but what I wasn't ready for was an apology from my Supervisor, who later called, pleading for us to bury the hatchet and work together so our department does not fail.
