At my job, there’s an open higher level position that several people are interested in, One of my coworkers really wants it and has made it very obvious, Over the past few months, he’s been doing everything possible to stand out constantly talking over others in meetings, taking credit for group work and loudly agreeing with management even when it contradicts what he said before, At first I ignored it but it started to affect the team. People felt talked over and it made collaboration uncomfortable. He also started checking in on everyone’s tasks and then reporting updates to our supervisor as if he were already in charge, Eventually I got annoyed and pulled him aside privately. I told him that his behavior was coming across as desperate and was actually hurting team morale, and that trying this hard might backfire instead of helping him get the promotion, He didn’t take it well and said I was jealous and trying to sabotage his chances. Since then, things have been tense, and he’s told a few coworkers that I was being unsupportive and negative, Now I’m wondering if I should have just stayed out of it and let management handle it instead of saying anything, AITA for telling my coworker the truth about how his behavior is coming across?
Well, you tried to be a friend and tell him privately, and now he’s complaining about you to your colleagues.
Time to take the problem to the supervisor or other Higher-Ups, focussing on the micro-management, claiming credit for others’ work, and creating a hostile work environment with the interruptions and the bitching.
NTA but yes, management needs to be alerted, otherwise you *will* have to report to him, and then your worklife really will get tough.
Thank you so much
I’d say NTA if this were life outside of work but unfortunately corporate life plays by different rules. You should’ve gone to someone hire up if you had a complaint. While “street rules” would say confront the person directly, neither of you are the boss nor responsible for correcting the other’s behavior. Also I’d ask if, if you were trying to sabotage him, would you tell him if he’s messing up?
Don’t be surprised if he gets the job though. Unfortunately a lot of times higher ups pick the kiss asses and the ones who run to tell them everything, over what’s actually good for the company.
Sad but true. Ego maniacs love to be surrounded by sycophants 🙂
You probably should have reported his behaviour to your boss. Now, he can control the narrative.
NTA on paper but you went about it the wrong way.
You’re NTA but you screwed up. You centered the feedback on his promotion, not his behavior.
You could have said you are unhappy with him talking over you, monitoring your tasks and reporting on them, and taking credit for shared work.
You could have spoken to leadership about his behavior and how it’s impacting the team.
He can focus on his image and the promotion, and how you failed to be supportive, because you focused on it first.
If I were you, I’d go to your boss now. Explain what you said, why you said it, and how it’s escalated
He’s declared war on you. Don’t let him end up being your boss. Sink him. NTA
You are the asshole to yourself
NTA. Let him blow himself up and then wallow in schadenfreude for a short time.
Alternative scenario: The tryhard gets promoted. Start looking for a new job.