How To Deal With A Power Tripping Team Leader
A controlling team leader may be difficult to agree with. To deal with a power tripping team lead, you need to learn how to communicate and negotiate with him. You must be able to assert your thoughts and feelings as well as stand your ground so that he doesn’t crush you. But on the other hand, you must also be respectful to your boss.
Of course there are many types of leaders. There is the autocratic or decisive leader who plans everything for the team. He can be kind and gentle but he can also be too demanding and controlling. There is also the democratic leader who gets the input of everyone. He is typically easy to work with.
Another type of leader is the transactional leader who gives rewards for merits and good outputs. This type of leader is good, but he manipulates the team into working and agreeing with him all the time using rewards, it can be bad too.
There is also the transformational leader who uses inspiration and motivation and even example to lead his team. He leads by inspiring others and doing good deeds. He is an ideal boss and leader.
However, there are also tyrannical leaders who use and abuse their power. They deal with you like pawns and push you around.
In order to deal with a team leader who micromanagers you and power trips, you must understand his motives and his work style.
A Call Center Team Lead
Your team leader or manager is your immediate supervisor in the call center. He typically takes care of the team and manages their metrics. He also supports the management by pushing his team into achieving the company set goals and objectives.
Most team leaders are amenable. They try to balance the needs of their team with the wishes of the client and the company. However, there are those who treat their subordinates as mere assets and resources. They do not care about the well being of the team, but rather they only care about hitting metrics.
A team leader can be a power tripper if he or she micromanages the team to the minute details. He may have good intentions such as achieving a target and a goal, but in the end he burns out his team. He tries too hard to please upper management but destroys his team’s spirit.
Here are some tell tale signs that your TL is a power tripper
How To Deal With a Power Tripping TL
Dealing with a manager who is power hungry and abusive is very stressful. But you need to work, and so you need to see him everyday of your work week. But how do you get along with him? Now that you know the signs of a TL who abuses his power, let us go into the steps you can take to resolve this dilemma.
1. Talk to your team leader
- Your metrics – Assure him that you will work well on your metrics and that you will do your best to achieve each one of your KPIs.
- Tardiness – Do not be late at work all the time. It doesn’t matter if you live far or if there is heavy traffic, those are not valid excuses. Wake up early and go to work early.
- That you will be more proactive at work – Tell your TL that you are willing to improve your sales or FCR score or that you will render overtime here and there.
- That you will help him with his workload – You can proactively assist him with managing the team like helping him encode scores or fixing some of his paper work
2. Talk to your teammates
Talk to your teammates and ask them if they are also experiencing the same issue with your TL. Your case may be an isolated case that you can refer to the management or a big issue that all team members are facing that you can arbitrate with HR and the account management.
You may also as your team mates to approach your TL together so that he can know the voice of the team. If the majority of the team agrees that is problematic, then maybe he needs out.
3. Talk to higher management
The higher operations team cares about each agent on the floor. They care about your well-being and so reporting abuse and issues with your TL can be coursed through them. They can coach your TL so that he or she can improve his or her attitude as a leader.
Also, the higher management can sanction your Team Lead if he is violating any rules and regulations.
4. Talk to HR
If you feel that your TL is getting too abusive and that he is now violating your rights as an employee, you can ask HR to help you with the matter. Depending on the severity of the case, HR will prescribe an action for your TL. This can be an internal action. However, if it is too grave, it can cause your boss’s dismissal and even legal proceedings. Do not forget that HR’s role is to assist every employee.
If you feel that HR still cannot help you, you may opt to file a legal case under the Department of Labor and Employment.
5. Get Transferred to Another Team
Getting transferred to another option for you. If you feel that your TL is harassing you or causing havoc on your mental health, then move to another team. A new team maybe what you need to grow better at work.
Inform higher management that you prefer to work with another supervisor and that your performance will improve if you get transferred.
