Leader’s interference disrupts work

Dear Joan:
I was hired recently into a large firm as a creative director for a new project. Several long-standing board members conceived this project.

One of the more influential members brought the wife in to market the newly developed project. The company already had several well-accomplished marketing representatives and they strongly resented the intrusion into their territory by "the wife."

I, in the meantime, can get little to no cooperation from the representatives because they feel slighted. In all fairness to them, the company didn't appear to need another marketing representative and particularly one with no experience or background in the area. (She was a file clerk before raising her children 20 years ago.)

Needless to say, the project is stalled. The "influential member" spends all his time in our area trying to assist his wife and help her become successful.

I need the experienced marketing reps to help get the project off the ground; they see "the wife" as taking money out of their pockets and refuse to cooperate.

I did try to approach the "influential member" about the feelings of the marketing reps. His comment: "Tough."

Honestly, I like the company, the project has great potential, but without all of us working together we will go nowhere. Should I leave the firm because I certainly can't see an end to this sticky situation?

Answer:
This is more than sticky. This influential leader has gummed up the works because he has allowed his selfish motives to influence his business decision.

Since he has attained a high degree of esteem among his peers, this must be an out-of-pattern goof. In his head he knows this situation is doomed, but in his heart he's blindly hoping it will "all sort itself out." Because he has influence and power, he is used to getting what he wants. This time, he's in for a disappointment.

An ideal solution must satisfy the goals and integrity of the project, remove the resentment from the marketing reps and perhaps even satisfy the personal needs of the wife and her husband.

Here's a solution that might work. Ask the influential leader if his wife could work for you as an assistant. Although this is a risky move, it could satisfy all the necessary criteria.

It would help the leader fulfill his commitment to his wife while allowing him to save face with his colleagues. It would get the marketing reps off his back. His wife would still get the job experience she needs, and you might get a valuable assistant, which could be handy as the project activity picks up.

If this solution has some potential, you must be very assertive about your need for independence and freedom in managing the activities of the wife without interference. You might say this to the leader:

"I want your wife to be successful, too. I will coach her and provide the necessary support. However, if she is to succeed in the real world, she must do so on her own because you won't always be there for her to fall back on. If I am to be her coach, I feel I must have her undivided attention and commitment to my expectations. If others perceive her as getting special attention from you, it will hurt her credibility, as well as her self-esteem. How can she really have confidence in herself if she doesn't do it on her own?"

If the wife is lacking potential talent or is unwilling to work hard to pull her own weight, you'd be wise to put your resume on the street and forget the whole idea. Likewise, if her husband is unwilling to back off, the plan would fail.

On the other hand, if your plan worked, this gooey mess could be sweeter than honey.

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