how one can inform an overstepping worker to remain of their lane — Ask a Supervisor

A reader writes:

I handle a big crew. Their job descriptions and roles are fairly clear and particular, however one among our subject material expects, “Jane,” is continually questioning the work of different crew members on initiatives she doesn’t have a stake in (and by default, my assist for that work and the choices being made). I need to encourage suggestions and dialogue, however I additionally must let Jane know she has to belief her coworkers and their experience, and the boundaries of who “owns” what.

I believe one of many points is the corporate and my crew has grown from a small one to a bigger one with new management (together with me!). So we’ve gone from a spot the place lots of selections have been made by committee to 1 the place some individuals are stakeholders and others are usually not. Jane has been on the firm for some time however isn’t in a management or administration place, so is usually not a stakeholder in key selections/initiatives.

I’ve tried to place higher guardrails round suggestions or restrict involvement in some initiatives however then she says she doesn’t really feel heard. How do I respectfully talk that she ought to focus extra on her position, with out stifling artistic collaboration and dialogue?

For instance, in conferences she’ll announce that one thing feels off-brand to her, or she doesn’t like the colours utilized in a design or the language chosen to explain one thing, or she doesn’t assume adequate progress has been made on a marketing campaign — all for initiatives that she’s not concerned with. That is all addressed to me — she’s not in any conferences with the opposite stakeholders and decision-makers so when these questions come up, particularly in all-team conferences, it looks like issues get derailed since I’ve to attempt to defend issues and stroll her via hours of debate or context she wasn’t current for (and make it clear I assist the choices of the individuals who run these areas).

She is nice at her job. However she doesn’t have expertise in any of the areas the place she questions selections and desires enter.

Am I being a grinch after I need to grit my enamel and need to flat out say “You don’t have to fret about that as a result of it has nothing to do along with your job — plus belief your crew to make good selections primarily based on their experience”?

I reply this query over at Inc. at this time, the place I’m revisiting letters which have been buried within the archives right here from years in the past (and typically updating/increasing my solutions to them). You can learn it right here.