I am the department secretary and am having some challenges with another staff member. She criticizes me for making decisions she says only she can make because she has a college degree and I don’t. While her job is different than mine, some decisions are just common sense and I resent her condescending attitude. Besides, my job description says I’m expected to make decisions and past supervisory experience has equipped me to do so. Because she’s very busy, I would think she’d appreciate my help instead of telling me to mind my own business.
Decision making in organizations is often a complex process, governed by a variety of factors. While it looks to you that your coworker is using her degree in an effort to “put you in your place”, there may be other reasons that she’s telling you to leave the decision-making up to her.
Who is accountable? Decision-making parameters are generally determined by the scope of responsibilities and levels of accountability associated with a particular position. In some cases, government regulatory agencies establish specific criteria defining who is qualified to fill roles--teachers, social workers, nurses, doctors, and lawyers are a few examples. An associated degree is used as an indicator that the individual has the knowledge background needed to make appropriate decisions. So even though you may be capable of making good decisions, if the buck stops with your coworker it makes sense that she needs control over the decision making.
Who has adequate information? Because your roles are different they involve different tasks, information, interactions, and expectations. While you and she likely share information, it’s also likely that each has some information that the other doesn’t have. When you make decisions outside of your realm of responsibility based solely on your information, what is common sense to you may actually be inappropriate and even harmful to your organization’s customers, clients, patients, or employees.
What are the current guidelines? Unless a job description provides specific guidelines, decision-making boundaries can be blurred, vague, and confusing. Most often, however, one’s decision making ability is limited to his or her area of responsibility. If you’re confused about how to be helpful to your coworker without crossing the line, sit down with her to establish clear decision-making guidelines for the two of you. Share with one another your understandings of current guidelines and, if necessary, involve your supervisor(s) to clarify differing interpretations.
