I have been allocated to a new manager. He keeps putting me down in public and speaking over me in meetings. Others have commented on this, which is really embarrassing. What can I do?
I have a dear friend who interrupts despite me asking her not to. She is genuinely unaware that she is doing it and becomes embarrassed if I point it out to her. However, this person is your manager, which is a different situation. Perhaps he is feeling a bit nervous or lacking in confidence in his role, particularly given your experience. This may be his way of trying to assert himself.
Ideally, you should feel able to ask him how he is finding the role. It may well be that once he has settled in, he won’t accompany you to the same meetings. If others have commented on it, there might be a way of asking them to jokily point it out next time he speaks over you. Or you can calmly say, “can I please finish what I was saying?” If it persists and he doesn’t stop doing it you may need to take steps to stop him behaving like this. Everyone is entitled to dignity in the workplace.
Answered by Jeanie Lynch, who works for Barnardo’s and has 25 years’ experience of working with vulnerable children and families
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