Dear Agatha,
I must start by thanking you for putting yourself out for the well-being of our folks. I live in Europe, and I’m an avid reader of your column.
I work in a multi-man all-male environment; therefore, there is a good dose of humour. As expected in such close proximity, we enjoy a healthy dose of banter as well.
Nonetheless, there is this fellow Nigerian who sees nothing right with anything I do as the acting assistant manager. This position was initially offered to me by my immediate past manager, subject to authorisation from the head office. It was later thought wise to throw the position open to others who may want to apply; to accommodate other interests, it was internally advertised. The person in question also applied for the position.
Shortly before the process for interview commenced, the English manager left for a better job in a rather hurried manner. It fell on me to run shop in the interim. I must confess it was the most harrowing time of my life on account of the infantile intrigues of this colleague. He did everything possible to discredit everything I did.
Nigerians in this work inexplicably make up 90 per cent of the work force, a very rare opportunity I thought, given the high-profile nature of the assignment. In view of the stereotypically depressing culture of our ‘host’ about our perceived lack of ability to hold up standards, I pleaded with my folks to do their very utmost, because failure won’t just reflect badly on our employer, but on our collective identity.
Thankfully, I handed over to a substantive manager with commendations for the team, while my efforts were rewarded with a performance award.
Again, the position of assistant manager was advertised and this person and I applied for the position. Just before interview date, on a weekend the manager and I were off work, this person left his duty post for five hours without permission. Unfortunately for him, a superior officer came on a routine check, discovered his absence, which was confirmed through the CCTV.
My Christian ethos blinded me to a tactical advice: you don’t lose the initiative to your opposite in a power game. Nevertheless, my pastor’s words kept rigging in my head: you can win the battle, but then you lose a friend. I was persuaded to intervene on his behalf, without any prompting from him. I pleaded with the operations director who attended to supervise the disciplinary process to pardon his daft behaviour. He assured me nothing drastic would come to him. Again, I pleaded with my immediate manager to hand him a soft landing, he agreed.
A few days ago this colleague accused me of selling information about his second job to our employer. All attempts to reassure him that I am not capable of such satanic thing fell on deaf ears. Subsequently, we had strong words and I accused him of witch-hunting, spite and undermining my position.
I am thinking of going to our employer with this. Now, wouldn’t it make us stupid in the eyes of our foreign employers that we can’t hold it together without warring amongst ourselves?
I need your view on this matter real soon.
Akin.
Dear Akin,
Don’t report him, it isn’t worth it. What you did, you did for God and not him. He doesn’t have to believe you had nothing to do with the thing he is accusing you of. Whether he believes you or not is immaterial. What is important is that you have helped to protect his job. This is what counts to God not the politics of whatever scheming he is doing behind your back to either discredit you for the job God has assigned to you or to paint you black in the minds of your colleagues.
Reporting him to your employers is taking the initiative away from God and taking on your battle yourself. If you remember, you may not have been the most qualified for that job or the most competent you will learn how to endure the antics of this person by refusing to fight back. God saw something special in you, a quality that has to be given freedom to grow hence He allowed your application to sail through.
Through the attitude of this man, God is training you for something bigger. Leadership doesn’t come without challenges. If you aspire for the best in life, you must learn to accommodate people like this without giving up on them or your own ability to cope with them without allowing yourself to be dragged in their dirt or through the mud.
Life is a challenge and an on-going school. For those God is preparing for tougher challenges, He deliberately plants human irritants to test their endurance, patience, tolerance and faith in Him.
Positions of authority don’t come to some people based on their intimidating credentials but on their ability to manage humans. This is why less-qualified people sometimes are given more responsibilities, considered for higher positions than seemingly better-qualified persons.
You would be exposing your weakness as a leader if you report him to your employers. It isn’t just a matter of exposing your nationality to ridicule but your own ability to manage the different shades and character of people that have been placed under you. It would definitely work against you when there is a tie between you and another person for a higher opening in the management.
A good manager is one who is always atop of events, never giving in to emotions, sentiments or side attractions.
Allow this matter rest. Ignore him the next time he comes with such negative and unfounded accusations. You don’t join a mad man in exchanging words simply because the mad man throws abusive words at you.
Everyone knows he would never be happy losing a position he had hoped to occupy to you. For now you have the sympathy of people but risk losing it if you give in to his intentional attempts at blackmailing you to fight back.
He is baiting you to showcase your unsuitability for that position so beware and learn to be ahead of him.
Going on your knees before God is the best way to triumph over people like him. This isn’t your battle but that of the God you serve who has persistently shown you favour in a foreign land.
Good luck.
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