The Federal Coach: How Do You Manage Someone Who Wanted Your Job?

This week’s question is how to manage someone who also applied for your manager’s position. Please continue to share your ideas and suggestions for the column by commenting below and by sending in your questions to the [email protected].

How do you manage someone who wanted your job? –Federal manager (GS-13) from the U.S. Census Bureau

To help you navigate this awkward situation, I want to start by sharing a story of a friend who was promoted into a position that another colleague had felt entitled to assume after filling that job in an acting capacity.

My friend didn’t realize that he and this colleague had been competing for the same job until he noticed some passive-aggressive signs of discontent. After speaking with his supervisor about the staff member, my friend learned that they had in fact been pursuing the same job.

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