Management Advice Clinic

Advice Clinic

Have you got a problem at work that that you would like help with? Share your workplace dilemmas with us and our panel of experts - and other Management-Issues visitors - will help you with your challenges.
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Challenged!

One of Carla's direct reports has directly challenged her management style and decision-making – and done so in writing. How should she react? Charles Helliwell scopes out a course of action.

When the boss crosses the line

Kate works as an assistant to eight people. All are demanding, but one crosses the line between the professional and personal and acts like a jerk when she asks him not to. Charles Helliwell has some advice on dealing with him.

Letting the side down

One of the staff Paul manages doesn't pull his weight, is always coming up with excuses for time off and now clams to have picked up an injury. Something needs to be done – but what?

An impossible position?

Kelly's CEO is a bullying, sociopathic micro-manager who makes life hell for everyone. With nobody to turn to for redress, is there any way she can end her suffering? The Boss Whisperer, Laura Crawshaw, has some frank advice.

A cultural conundrum

Robert moved from the UK to a management job in China a year ago. While things went well at first, one of his team has recently been openly challenging his working-style and being dismissive of his decisions. What should he do?

The games people play

Promoted into a new role, Mary has come up against a subordinate who wants to make her look as bad as possible. The trouble is, she is also a favourite of Mary's boss. What can she do? Charles Helliwell has some suggestions.

A bad beginning

Carla has just started a senior government job to find herself with a deputy who was passed over for the same job. He is hurt, angry and causing trouble. Is there anything she can do salvage the situation? Max McKeown thinks there is.

Teaching an old dog new tricks

Mary has been promoted to head up her company's career development function. The trouble is, her VP doesn't see the need for such a function in the first place and doesn't see her move as a promotion at all. What can she do to get him on side?

Surviving a bullying boss

Linda's experience with an aggressive, abrasive boss epitomizes the distress and confusion that bullying causes in the workplace. The Boss Whisperer, Laura Crawshaw, has some invaluable advice to help Linda deal with her predicament.

My ex-boss won't stop sandbagging me

Eric's ex-boss seems to be hell-bent on destroying his reputation and needs some help to change the perception others have of him. Dr Rob Yeung suggests a strategy which can help him.

Bigmouth strikes again

Mary has recently moved into a management position where she is plagued by a colleague who bad-mouthed the previous person in her position and now she is saying the same things about her. Charles Helliwell has some advice.

I need some commitment in return

Brian is starting a new senior management role that involves relocating his family. But in light of the huge commitment he's making to the company, how can he ensure some commitment from them in return?

How do I deal with my lazy boss?

Diane's unit is plagued with poor morale and disorganization – a large part of which is due to her lazy boss. Dr Rob Yeung has some suggestions to help her deal with him without upsetting the applecart.

How do I get my team back?

Shayla is a young manager with a big problem. Key members of her team have turned against her and her authority – and effectiveness – is rapidly being undermined. Charles Helliwell has some ideas to get things back on track.

Founders are sabotaging the company

The three founders of Allan's company are technically brilliant but just aren't interested in management. Staff turnover is high and the problems are mounting. Charles Helliwell has some ideas how they might be persuaded to change.

How do I handle this behavior?

After an incident with a member of her staff, Katy is being given the cold-shoulder by her team as well as staff from other departments. Penny de Valk, CEO of the Institute of Leadership & Management, has some tips on how to handle a tricky situation.

How do I deal with malicious gossip?

Gossip is ruining Aimee's life and her managers are unwilling to address the issue. Things have got so bad that she's thinking of leaving. But is there anything else she can do? Dr Rob Yeung has some ideas.

Breaking down the wall of silence

Paula's boss simply refuses to deal with any problems or issues that arise in the office. What can she do to break down the wall of silence and start some honest communication?
Our Panel of experts
Janet Howd
Janet Howd is a professional singer and actress who has worked extensively in theatre in the UK and has created leading roles in London, at the Edinburgh festival and for the BBC. She is also a voice and presentational coach and author of "Breath of Life or Kiss of Death: Your Voice and Your Presentation."
Dan Bobinski
Dan Bobinski is a training specialist, author, and an accomplished keynote speaker. He's been the president of Leadership Development, Inc., providing workforce and management training to Fortune 500 companies as well as smaller, regional concerns for more than 18 years.
Myra White
Myra White teaches managing workplace performance and organizational behavior at Harvard University and is a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School. She is the author of "Follow the Yellow Brick Road: A Harvard Psychologist's Guide to Becoming a Superstar", a book based on her research into how over 60 well-known people became superstars.
Matt Witheridge
Matt Witheridge is the Operations Manager for the Andrea Adams Trust, the world's first charity dedicated to tackling workplace bullying. He has been campaigning for businesses to employ effective policies for dealing with workplace bullying for the last eight years.
Charles Helliwell
For the past 15 years, Charles Helliwell has been enjoying a lifestyle and earning an income as a behavioural and relationship mentor who specialises in the personal and professional development of people in business.
Andy Parsley
Andy Parsley helps organisations positively engage with two key audiences: their employees and their customers – both existing and potential. A marketing communications expert, he is the founder of Green Lion Insights and Solutions – an employee engagement consultancy and a regular writer and speaker on employment issues.
Andy Hanselman
Andy Hanselman is a business competitiveness specialist who helps leaders creative competitive advantage, maximise customer relationships and improve customer care.
Laura Crawshaw
Laura Crawshaw researches and coaches abrasive leaders, otherwise known as "bully bosses". She is known as "The Boss Whisperer™" for her ability to help these individuals develop less destructive management styles.
Dawna Jones
Dawna Jones coaches those who want to coach themselves, develops programs for employees to regain their capacity to self and collectively lead, consults on the organizational cultural adjustments and connects employees with their inherent, tacit knowledge with application to real work challenges.
John Blackwell
John Blackwell is a business transformation specialist who helps organisations optimise diminishing resources of people, space, time, and technology.
Max McKeown
Max McKeown works as a strategic adviser for four of the five most admired companies in the world. Europe's unorthodox answer to Tom Peters, he is also a a well-known speaker on subjects including innovation and competitive advantage.