u/RanOutofCookies

I’ve been doing the bulk of the work on a project component and recently, my manager appointed me as the component’s team lead and added some people to the team to help me. This will give me the experience to qualify me for promotion to supervisor.

I work well with most people - almost anyone. But this person on my team is someone that constantly undermines me and questions my decisions and feedback. From the moment she arrived, I got the sense that she sees me as competition instead of a colleague. We have been assigned to the same projects before and she will constantly ask me questions and then refuses to accept the answer. She will then ask someone else she thinks is more knowledgeable and then get the same answer and accept it.

This week during our check-in, I was updating the team on project status and she flat-out challenged me and asked how she could be assigned to an area of work she has been specifically excluded from (due to conflicting work styles and lack of experience in this area). I tried to be diplomatic but in the end I basically asked another team member to back me up on the point to get her to move on. It was awkward and uncomfortable.

Anyone have any advice on how to manage a situation/relationship like this? She is good at her job and she’s good with the work. I personally dislike working with her, but I can’t pick and choose who is assigned to projects. It also makes me look bad that I can’t get along with someone.