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Insubordination Who's In Charge? Power Plays and Players Know It All's

I have been through several managers under me, and I finally hired one who was doing excellent work for the past six months. However, on a recent assignment, I told her not to contact certain people because of confidential matters. I checked in with her later, and I was shocked to find she contacted these people. She said I was wrong to exclude them. What should I do?



It is ironic for this employee to say you were wrong, since her actions were totally wrong, and she may even be wrong for this job.

This employee may believe that the people whom you excluded should be included, and she may even have good reasons for believing so. The problem is that she needed to approach you on this matter, rather than taking it upon herself to ignore the parameters you established.

The good news is that this appears to be her first major mistake since you hired her, while the bad news is that this mistake shows questionable judgment, insubordination, and even a dash of arrogance, all of which can be a recipe for organizational trouble. Although you do not want to lose this employee, you need to give her some clear feedback and guidance regarding her actions.

The fact that you have been through several employees in this position should not stop you from taking appropriate managerial action. This employee has demonstrated that she can be a loose cannon, and at one point or another, most cannons get fired.



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Posted by Website visitor on 2010-02-12 15:05:37
I feel your response is harsh here. You have to take into consideration that this employee may have been doing what was best for the company and her bosss could have a different agenda. It sounds like you are saying we should always do what out bosses command even if it is in bad judgement. I think because this individual has been through several employees is a red flag too.