Posted on Jun 26, 2020
How do I deal with a current reservist field grade Officer who constantly challenges every decision I make in the civilian world?
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He and I work together and With my 30 years plus experience with our company I am considered one of the top in my profession. I Instruct, Evaluate and Certify individuals to perform our job through Federal certification and Company authorization. He keeps providing input and suggestions which are sometimes adverse to our situation and won't take No for an answer. I explain why and get but ...if... from him. I am required to review his performance since he has only been with the company a short time. I do not want to damage his career and I do respect his military rank but his civilian role as a subordinate is putting me a tough position. If I were totally honest it could reflect badly on him. He is very good at his military job and not bad as his civilian job. I can't seem to get through to him. He doesn't seem to have much consideration of my 42 years in the profession and 30+ years at our company.
I have Trained, Evaluated and Certified many individuals who were very high ranking military officers prior to retiring and some are still active in reserve units. Never have I run into a situation like this. All previous individuals have become friends; respect my position, knowledge and experience.
Any suggestions on how to handle this dilemma?
I have Trained, Evaluated and Certified many individuals who were very high ranking military officers prior to retiring and some are still active in reserve units. Never have I run into a situation like this. All previous individuals have become friends; respect my position, knowledge and experience.
Any suggestions on how to handle this dilemma?
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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Look, his rank means nothing in your company, Pull him aside and explain the facts of life- "Keep punching holes in the Bosses ship and I will sink your boat!"
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SMSgt Anil Heendeniya
I agree with the above; tell him you gave him enough rope to see how he handles himself, but his actions have clearly proven he's in serious need of immediate improvement.
He must halt his downward-spiralling course stat, so you're tightening the reins and applying more structure and discipline to force the critical improvements he himself has proven incapable of making on his own, until such time as he reverses course and shows he meets the standards, goals, and requirements expected of him with maturity, self-discipline, and dedication.
He must halt his downward-spiralling course stat, so you're tightening the reins and applying more structure and discipline to force the critical improvements he himself has proven incapable of making on his own, until such time as he reverses course and shows he meets the standards, goals, and requirements expected of him with maturity, self-discipline, and dedication.
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Your TRAINEE will be representing your company's program and your competence as an instructor once you certify him. No matter if he works with civilian or government organizations in his new position, his military status or performance is not relevant. He has to learn to operate under the parameters your company lays down. A private "counseling" session is in order.
You mention you have been less than diplomatic in the past. If this individual needs a 2X4 hitting his head to understand, I can send you one, but your and your companies reputation are at stake. If a trainee is disruptive and unwilling to work within accepted and established parameters, perhaps he is not appropriate for the position he seeks.
You mention you have been less than diplomatic in the past. If this individual needs a 2X4 hitting his head to understand, I can send you one, but your and your companies reputation are at stake. If a trainee is disruptive and unwilling to work within accepted and established parameters, perhaps he is not appropriate for the position he seeks.
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1st Lt Rick Gauthier
Excellent suggestion! I tried the soft feather touch, thinking he would catch the hint without coming down on him like a ton of bricks. I guess I need a couple pallets of bricks to get his attention. I have used the ton of bricks approach first in the past and those individuals now avoid me like the plague. They are constantly uttering less than flattering reviews of my behavior which does not bother me because as I know others working with them have informed me those same individuals are using techniques I have shown them. So dislike me as they will I had a positive influence on them whether they choose to realize it or not.
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1st Lt Richard Gauthier
Thanks. Trying to use our common core of experience didn’t work. I am not an instructor and he came thorough our program with me as a contact. We had a Serious conversation which enlightened him and not what he wanted. Only time will see if it sunk in.
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There is a separation between day jobs and side gigs.
Sounds like he is blurring the lines.
At the end of the day you have a job to do and as long as it is your professional opinion and not a personal opinion it sounds you are obligated to rate his job performance without bias.
I would recommend making the appropriate job rating but also loop in HR and Military EO into the mix to ensure that there isn’t any retribution on his end.
Sounds like he is blurring the lines.
At the end of the day you have a job to do and as long as it is your professional opinion and not a personal opinion it sounds you are obligated to rate his job performance without bias.
I would recommend making the appropriate job rating but also loop in HR and Military EO into the mix to ensure that there isn’t any retribution on his end.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
1st Lt Rick Gauthier
It happens. I worked IT at the Naval Hospital in San Diego and we had a Nurse that did the same thing but worse. He was hired as a GS11 civilian Nurse. He is a O6 in the Naval reserves and tried to represent himself as a Captain. He would wear his Uniform to work and tried to force everyone to make his ID and accounts to reflect his Military rank instead of his civilian rank and title.
We had to get his leadership and HR involved to force him to stop it. He was acting like we were cheating him out of something
It happens. I worked IT at the Naval Hospital in San Diego and we had a Nurse that did the same thing but worse. He was hired as a GS11 civilian Nurse. He is a O6 in the Naval reserves and tried to represent himself as a Captain. He would wear his Uniform to work and tried to force everyone to make his ID and accounts to reflect his Military rank instead of his civilian rank and title.
We had to get his leadership and HR involved to force him to stop it. He was acting like we were cheating him out of something
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