Secret Meetings at Work

[Saren2001]

Hi, I wonder if anyone can give me any advice.

I am a Manager working in a small organisation employing around 20 people and manage a team of 20 people. The organisation is quite notorious in the sector for having significant cultural problems, and quite an aggressive and powerful team dynamic.

The previous manager in my role left after a few months, from what I hear a lot of this was due to bullying, and team members arranging secret meetings about her.

I may be paranoid but I suspect members of my team are planning to arrange a secret meeting about me. This is from comments I have picked up in the office and a note left around with a date and list of names, with no meeting scheduled in the office calendar.

Obviously it is quite unnerving to think that a group of your staff may be arranging a clandestine meeting about you, possibly to discuss concerns about you. I would prefer any concerns about my performance to be discussed with my line manager.

Can anyone advise on the best course of action for me?

Thanks

[Mani_H]

I mean if this meeting actually does happen.

[phleb]

arrange a meeting with all the team.. Mention that 'it has come to your attention that a meeting was arranged between all, without your knowledge. If there is a problem with me, then i would like it if we can discuss and solve it together. Also be assertive and tell them their place. do not let them bully you out.

[woofgang]

Mani, its all deniable....the meeting was about business matters, the manager wasn't invited because they didn't want to waste his /her time, the fact that the manager wasn't told was an oversight....yadda yadda, I have so been there. As a manager, you deal with it. With great courtesy but absolutely clearly you make clear that if anyone has a problem, they raise it openly and it gets dealt with openly, that time at work is for working in, not being childish....and that anyone who can't hack working in an adult courteous team has a choice and will be given an excellent reference.

[Eve]

Doesn't sound like something which should be done rashly or on your own initiative if possible, better to tread very carefully.

Who did you hear about the former manager from?

If this has been a previous problem then do management know about it? Have you spoken to your line manager about the situation? Maybe agree, with other senior management and HR as appropriate, the best course of action in line with company policies, employment law etc...

If nothing else it may well guage the kind of support you may get now and later.

I'd tread very carefully, especially if it is individuals/a team who may already have caused problems.

In the meantime, carry on doing you job how you are supposed to do it, be professional, consistent, fair etc... and give no cause for any warranted fault picking as much as possible (give them no legitimate reason to cause issue) and remain approachable as to any issues.

Try not to show paranoia or weakness (give them something to get a grip of) without beng overbearing or too defensive the other way and getting backs up.

Sounds much easier than it is though, granted.

[EcclesCake]

If I wanted to have a meeting with my colleagues about our manager I would arrange it off site in our lunch hour. Quite how a team can have a meeting without sharing its purpose with their manager baffles me. I have frequently arranged meetings with a small number of colleagues but to have a full team meeting sans manager is odd.

Simply ask them outright what the meeting is about or attend it and find out.

[DTCwordfan]

You honestly think that this real? - I am George Osbourne - Exterminate.

[woofgang]

looks like DT has been sounding off again.

[DTCwordfan]

No I questioned the validity of this thread from a newbie, woofgang........also bearing in mind there has been no follow up from the OP.

[DTCwordfan]

So your comment is not appreciated.......

[China Doll]

I also find it difficult to understand how a meeting happens without the manager knowing about it. I go to quite a lot of meetings (sadly!) and while my manager doesn't know the entire content of every meeting I go to, she knows the jist, where I'm going and long I'm likely to be. Same with everyone else. As a manager, you do have the right to know what meetings your staff are or are not attending.

[NOX]

I'd stick a huge block capital notice on the board:-

CLANDESTINE MEETING
2PM FRIDAY
SMALL BOARDROOM

or whatever the time and date is and see what happens. Whatever you do, assert your power subtlely or if it's true they'll have you over.

[craft1948]

I think it's nice to see 2 new members, Saren and Mani, interacting so quickly.

[Ann]

Having worked in my career for many years before I retired, I cannot imagine any job where a group of people can just "disappear" off to a meeting without their manager knowing where or what it is about. Sounds very suspect to me ..... and what kind of job does not need cover in an office - especially for the phones etc.

[MASS1961]

IF you are a Manager, then Manage, that's what you are paid to do!!

[TobyLaRhone]

What are the "significant cultural problems"?
Do you have any line managers or are they all your "direct reports"?
How long have you managed this team?
Have you yet had meaningful 1:1 meetings with all of the team?
You suspect they are having a secret meeting about you or are they having a scheduled meeting you hadn't noticed?

Not enough info yet to form an opinion rather than speculation.

[woofgang]

Nox, I think you should get best answer.

[hammerman]

Regular team meetings followed by "gloves off" one 2 ones would be my starting point.

[woofgang]

I reckon the OP has gone to work and "mysteriously vanished"

[boxtops]

You're the manager - if any of my team said they were disappearing to a meeting a) I want to know what the meeting is, and b) if it's all of them without you, I'd want to see the agenda, and receive notes of the meeting (for information) afterwards.