Handling a Manipulative Senior
"How should one handle a senior colleague who frequently assigns their work to a junior, takes credit for completed tasks, and uses manipulative behavior to avoid accountability?"
I faced this in my previous organisation. Unfortunately the top management will listen to only his word, one of my colleagues raised complaint to HR and got fired, nothing happened to the manipulative manager. My recommendation is to upskill urself and leave the organisation ASAP. It will make your life healthy and wealthy.
Heyya, I know how frustrating the situation is. I faced the same. Here's what happened.
Did alot of crazy good innovations and work. Clients took notice and so did the management but it always had to go through a senior. Finally, I guess the clients and people started to notice things can come directly to me rather than that senior.
The person senior did not like it. First the person tried changing teams but I still delivered and dropped email on my work looping everyone (which solidified ownership) . Finally got released from project without any notice or heads up since apparently diff stakeholders still wanted me which I believe was a threat to the senior. Usually you need to give two weeks notice before release or something like that.
Anyway I count myself lucky to be out. Similar situation my friends went through and trust me it was ugly. There isn't much you can do. All of them just left the organisation because it's best to be valued elsewhere. Management will just screw you if you try going against it or you spend majority of your life trying to get back.
My take, jump the chance you get. I am doing that and It feels amazing. People just inflate job market is bad and stuff out of proportion than what it really is. There is opportunity out there for talent. It's those people not skilled enough or lack in belief of their skills or just too comfortable in their comfort zone that are afraid to take the leap of faith.
You can strategize based on the situation and based on the strengths and weakness. There is no predefined solution for this unfortunately
Silence is the key, if not just wait for u r chance until you are fed up or use the same manipulative way in avoiding simple, if not never lower u r guard down say it on face next time he/she will be careful enough with you.
