Co-worker is a poser who steals ideas and is trying to edge me out

[Anonymous]

I work for the fed government; was hired as a technical expert many years back. My job is to provide technical expertise and support. I have led efforts to elevate and transform our work. My co-worker, who is not an expert, is very clearly trying to edge me out and "take over" my work and even my professional relationships. She finds every opportunity to minimize my efforts and to self-promote. I sense its jealousy but also ambition. I want to quit its so bad but should I really let her push me out of my field???

[Anonymous]

I would let her do my work and just chill.

[Anonymous]

Why let them win?

If they don't have the expertise then it will become glaringly obvious, so give them what they want!

It should be pretty easy to drop some hints to the boss that you are worried about their expertise but they need the experience so you want to throw them in the deep end and of course provide some honest mentoring along the way. If they are A-holes they will totally disregard your mentoring and most likely fail.

If they succeed, thats great for everyone and you can take the mentoring success and move up.

[Anonymous]

how is this person perceived by management? unfortunately one a-hole can ruin your career if they're diligent and others start to believe their bs. It's stressful in the short term to think about leaving a job when you don't necessarily want to, but in the long-term you may wish you had.

[Anonymous]

I would lateral to someplace else. This and most other similar job situations really are not fixable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would let her do my work and just chill.

Same

[Anonymous]

Manage her. Or she will manage you.

She's probably just trying to find her niche, saw an opening in the work you do, and is trying to insert herself in that opening. People do it all the time. Make your contributions broad enough that you can fold her into your efforts. And keep track of your efforts. Many of us have moved up because we were able to delegate work to others coming up the ladder.

But yes, sometimes coworkers who do this are snakes. I had one who became a supervisor.

[Anonymous]

How useful are you if a non expert can replace you so easily? Maybe your talents aren't needed there.

[Anonymous]

Give us specific examples and we’ll coach you in how to handle her. Don’t let her nudge you out.

[Anonymous]

poseur not poser

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Manage her. Or she will manage you.

She's probably just trying to find her niche, saw an opening in the work you do, and is trying to insert herself in that opening. People do it all the time. Make your contributions broad enough that you can fold her into your efforts. And keep track of your efforts. Many of us have moved up because we were able to delegate work to others coming up the ladder.

But yes, sometimes coworkers who do this are snakes. I had one who became a supervisor.

This is exactly right. You need to promote yourself more to counteract her efforts to diminish you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Manage her. Or she will manage you.

She's probably just trying to find her niche, saw an opening in the work you do, and is trying to insert herself in that opening. People do it all the time. Make your contributions broad enough that you can fold her into your efforts. And keep track of your efforts. Many of us have moved up because we were able to delegate work to others coming up the ladder.

But yes, sometimes coworkers who do this are snakes. I had one who became a supervisor.

+1. Usually there's more than enough work to go around. Let her edging in be the opportunity for you to make space in your schedule for the cool stuff you haven't had time for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work for the fed government; was hired as a technical expert many years back. My job is to provide technical expertise and support. I have led efforts to elevate and transform our work. My co-worker, who is not an expert, is very clearly trying to edge me out and "take over" my work and even my professional relationships. She finds every opportunity to minimize my efforts and to self-promote. I sense its jealousy but also ambition. I want to quit its so bad but should I really let her push me out of my field???

It's very possible that your "[leading] efforts to elevate and transform our work" was someone else's "My co-worker is very clearly trying to edge me out and take over."

[Anonymous]

I would let her sink like a stone. Keep your ideas to yourself. Be nice and respectful and then watch her fail as she tries pass off something she knows nothing about to the boss.

[Anonymous]

I don't know why people are so afraid of directly confronting people like this. I've had people come along and tell bosses in the past that they are now going to lead some effort, then come to me to implement my own ideas so they get credit for being the lead. I've told them to eff off to their face and then cut them out of any communications upwards that I could. It turns out your boss is also a giant wimp and is not going to want to confront jerks like your coworker on your behalf. Stand up for yourself.