It seems like your supervisor is reporting you to your manager, and you're feeling worried that this could have a negative impact on you. It's totally understandable! We've all been in that situation before.
So let's look at this from three different angles: first, we'll explore the psychology of the snitch; second, we'll learn how to handle the situation with the right attitude; and third, we'll discover how to deal with the negative impact of snitching.
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I'm here to help!
1. Let's try to understand each other better by looking at the psychology of the snitch.
1. It's totally normal to feel a little jealous of people who are doing really well at work.
Have you heard the saying, "the bird that shoots its head first when a gun is fired"? It's a sad fact that people who perform well are often the target of snitching in the workplace.
It's tough out there in the industry! Many people feel the pressure to compete and don't always have the chance to win through formal channels. So, they might try to privately report on others, saying things that are bad about them to highlight their own excellence and suppress the other party.
I think it's also worth mentioning that this might be a case of jealousy caused by her fear of being surpassed. It's often the case that when we feel powerless in direct competition, our natural instinct is to try and undermine others.
From what you've shared, it seems like you're a hard-working person who just happens to be in a position where you're doing well. It's totally understandable that this might be stressful for you. It's also understandable that it might be frustrating for the person who is reporting you because they're feeling insecure about their own performance.
2. You're a perfectionist!
It's also possible that she's a bit of a perfectionist. She has high expectations of everyone and wants others to complete their work according to her strict requirements, which can make it difficult for her to achieve her desired goals.
So, she thought it would be a good idea to get the boss's help to get the job done, but she couldn't bring it up directly, so she reported it to get the boss to understand the shortcomings of her subordinate at work. She was really hoping to use the boss's hands to achieve her management goals as soon as possible and establish the boss's prestige in her favor.
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2. How to face the situation of snitching with the right attitude.
?1. Try not to worry too much!
It's totally normal to feel a bit uneasy when you know someone is tattling on you to your boss. But the good news is, there's no need to worry!
It's important to remember that the person who's telling on you probably has their own issues to deal with. And the boss isn't going to be the kind of person who just listens to one side of the story.
As you said,
"This is just normal work. Because I played well before, she may want me to do more, but I'm not able to do that. I didn't expect her to report to the manager, too, because our promotions aren't fixed. Besides me, there are also other people going to her store, and she'll report on them, too."
So the leader will listen to more than just one side of the story because of a small report. He'll also try to understand what's going on from the frontline employees' point of view. Even if he only has one side of the story.
So, while snitching might have some impact on you, it won't be a big deal. If the leader has to deal with every minor problem in the workplace, they might not be able to keep up, which is why it's important to be mindful of how we approach these situations.
So, if there's nothing of a major principle involved and it's just a small report, the leader will only use it as a reference.
2. Let's take a look at the not-so-great effects of snitching from a fair and balanced point of view.
Of course, if lots of little reports add up, they can have a negative effect on you. This is the principle of accumulating small gains.
Let's say you're aiming for a promotion. It's possible that your leader might have a one-sided understanding of you because of all those reports. They might think you're lacking in one area of your work.
So, if there are too many snitches, the leader might start to have some doubts about your work ability.
So, how can we tell if someone's been spreading rumors about us? Let's look at a few key things to keep in mind.
I just wanted to check in with you about something. Did the leader have a private conversation with you?
If your boss has a private chat with you about something you've done at work, it means that someone has told them something that has made them think you've done something wrong. They're probably just looking for a bit of advice to help you improve.
If you weren't called in for a chat, it means that the snitching didn't have much of an impact.
2. Did your leader happen to mention your behavior at work in an indirect way during your conversation?
If the behavior mentioned involves the content of the snitch report, it just goes to show that when someone snitches, the leader remembers it. But because the content of the snitch report isn't considered important, the leader will give you feedback indirectly while talking about other work, so that you can improve. So, the impact of this kind of snitch report is indirect, not direct, and it doesn't have a significant impact.
3. Have any of your other colleagues mentioned the content of the report?
If other colleagues tell you that someone has reported on you, or mention the content of the report in casual conversation, it means that the incident has had an impact. It's totally normal for your actions to affect the team in some way, and it's not necessarily negative. It just means that you've made an impression! Everyone just mentioned it in casual conversation, but the fact that it was mentioned proves that someone has reported on you, and that the report has become known to many people.
If none of the above three things happen, it just goes to show that snitching doesn't really have much of an impact. It'll probably be forgotten about after a while.
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3. Here are some tips on how to deal with the negative impact of snitching.
We all make mistakes, but if you find yourself repeating the behavior mentioned in the snitch report, try to avoid doing so.
Once you find out that you've been reported and what the report says, it's a good idea to watch your words and actions. Try not to make the same mistake again too soon. By being careful, you'll show your colleagues that the report isn't affecting your work anymore.
This is a great way to stand up for yourself without saying a word!
So, just a heads-up: when the other person reports you, the leader will definitely notice your words and actions, whether they intend to or not. So, during this period of time, you'd better be careful.
2. Come together to put a stop to snitching!
If the person reporting on you is targeting multiple people, you can tactically gather these folks together to chat.
You can all work together to ignore the person who reported you. When you're at work, if you have something to discuss with the person who reported you, feel free to chat. If you don't have anything to say, don't say a word. And when you see her, just remind each other to keep quiet.
When the other person realizes that she's being ignored, she'll probably start to think about her own behavior.
And another thing! It's a great idea to have more than one pair of eyes keeping an eye on the person who reported you. You can all remind each other to avoid being caught again by her.
3. Treat others the way you'd like to be treated.
When you're being reported on, you can also respond by treating the person in the same way they've treated you. We're all human, and nobody's perfect.
Nobody's perfect at work, and you might even learn a thing or two about her work habits just by paying attention!
If you think it's necessary, you can also report her for not doing her job properly.
Such reports can be mentioned to the leader at the right time, or in casual conversations with colleagues. It's best to mention it in the course of a casual conversation, so that it doesn't seem deliberate.
It's important to be careful not to make anyone think you're targeting them or plotting against them.
It's also a good idea to point out her work deficiencies. That way, it'll be clear that nobody's perfect at work. And if you both have deficiencies, your own will seem less significant.
And in the course of work, you'll see that many things can be interpreted in different ways depending on who's looking at them. Some things might even have two completely different outcomes depending on how you look at them.
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In short, snitching in the workplace is actually a reflection of one's own incompetence. It's also worth noting that people who do this can sometimes come across as a little sinister and cunning.
I just want to say that I don't think this is the best approach.
However, if you encounter such a supervisor, it's important to stand your ground and not let them push you around. Often, if you make it clear that you're not someone to be trifled with, they'll be more cautious about provoking you.
Comments
I can totally relate to feeling upset when a former friend turns you in. It's hard to understand why someone would do that, especially when you've always tried to do your best and maintain a good relationship. Maybe it's time to have an open conversation with her and clear the air.
It's frustrating when people don't live up to their potential and then turn around and complain about others. I think it's important to stand up for yourself and address the issue directly with the manager, explaining your side of things and how you handle your responsibilities professionally.
It sounds like there's a lot of tension in your workplace. Perhaps it's worth reflecting on what you can control—your own actions and reactions—and try to set boundaries where necessary. Sometimes, we can't change others, but we can change how we respond to them.
The situation must be really tough for you, especially with the added pressure from colleagues who were once close. It might help to seek support from trusted friends or mentors outside of work. They can offer a fresh perspective and remind you of your value when you're feeling down.
Feeling betrayed by someone you considered a friend is never easy. It seems like this person may be insecure or threatened by your efforts. Try to focus on your goals and not let their actions distract you. If possible, distance yourself from toxic environments and individuals to preserve your mental health and job satisfaction.