How would you navigate this?

[Anonymous]

I was asked to help out on a project at the last minute after one of my colleagues had to go out on medical leave suddenly. Someone else on my team is spearheading an important corporate event next week but they need help since it’s a massive undertaking with high visibility. I just got brought in yesterday and it’s a mess for a million reasons I won’t get into here, and I am terrified it is going to be a disaster and I will be blamed for not doing more. I spent today trying to course correct but the person leading the event is not open to my feedback, they just want me to execute their vision.

The project lead is technically my peer but has been at the company longer than I have. They are very well respected but I think they underestimated their ability to pull off an event of this scale.

I don’t know how to cover my ass to ensure I don’t go down on this sinking ship. I tried to say something to my boss to share my concerns but she said I need to figure out how to manage this person and turn things around. I am trying but the event lead is not having it and just keeps giving me unimportant tasks to focus on.

What can I do so this doesn’t end up reflecting really poorly on me?

[Anonymous]

Cc your boss on emails with event lead where lead refuses your help on changing things around. “I’m happy to take over X portion in case helpful. Also looping in Natalie in case she has further thoughts on this and who might be able to assist in seeing this through”.

Ask to take over some specific aspects, see what event lead says. Report back to boss if there is unwillingness.

CYA in email exchanges with the lead. “Understood that you have this handled. Let me know if anything changes.”
“Boss asked me to check in on this aspect. Can you report out a status update? Thanks!”

^^implement some or all, but try to play nice during all of this.