Dealing with demanding associate?
I’m currently an A2 in an M&A group. I had solid performance feedback and was generally viewed as reliable and competent from my year end reviews.
However, I’ve recently been staffed with a new lateral associate who is very demanding with timelines on non-urgent tasks (like short meeting books with a meeting dates set for mid nov). I’ve been trying to explain that I need to prioritize deals and more urgent projects, but she doesn’t budge and continues to demand stuff within the next few hours or by the next morning. I’ve asked other analysts about this and they noticed the same thing, but we’re unsure how to work around this. Our group is very busy and we’re working past 1am regularly, including Fridays and weekends, and I won’t have time to begin the new associate’s project until early next week.
What should I do? Should I request to be unstaffed?
Did your associate explain any reasoning for why you should complete your task within that time provided?
She did not provide any explanation on why the task is urgent - it could just be to enjoy the weekend, even if it means I waste my weekend doing menial tasks
Politely tell them you have a deliverable with a hard external deadline that needs to be prioritized, and that you can get to her task afterwards. Instead of tomorrow morning, perhaps EOD or the following day.
If she doesn’t budge, then ask whether there is someone else who might have more time - pose it as a question rather than a demand.
I’ve been in your shoes and that’s how I would handle it. Slight chance she maybe trying to manage upward to a deadline pushed on her that you don’t want or she could just be unaware of your work product and is building in cushion for herself to spend time. If something is in mid-November, there’s no reason for her to want something by tomorrow.
Thanks, I may ask if someone else has time to work on this, or ask our vp when he wants to see a draft
Most likely explanation as to why this individual is doing this is to establish themselves and assert their authority as they possibly feel a little bit insecure as a lateral hire. From what I've experienced, laterals are second only to MBA Associates in terms of weird insecure hardo/centre of the universe behaviour.
As shitty as it sounds, there's no clear "right way" to tackle it beyond managing upwards or potentially ignoring them/pushing back a bit. If they end up complaining about you up the chain, they'll probably get rebuffed or pushed back by someone more experienced who will understand the priorities of the team better and side with you.
Alternatively, you could maybe speak to whoever you report to on some of the deals or other urgent projects you're on, explain the situation and ask them to have a discreet discussion with the associate and get them to chill out a bit or rearrange their priorities.
I wouldn't request to be unstaffed - dealing with difficult people effectively is a good skill to learn in your early career, and voluntarily unstaffing isn't going to make that associate stop acting that way, it will more than likely just aggravate them and lead them to complain about you to anyone who will listen, because they'll feel like you've left them high and dry. As annoying as it seems, you do work in the same team as this person and it is advantageous not to have disputes with those you work with generally, let alone those who work in the same team as you. It is better to resolve this in a manner where everybody wins, or at the very least, you don't just walk away.
All that said, if this individual won't respond to reason and won't listen to anyone else, then I'd say walking away is the best option, because the situation clearly resolve.
Thanks, good points. I may discuss again and see if there’s any flexibility, but wondering how to address her general angst around timelines given that she’s a few levels more senior
Because even if she is okay with pushing this specific task back, she may continue to demand that we prioritize other similarly non urgent tasks on other pitches or deals
It's going to be hard for you to address her angst from down the chain, given, as you rightly say, she's a few levels more senior. It is best for you to go over her head and have someone else deal with it - they come from a position with more authority and experience than you, and as a result, whatever they have to say to this associate is going to (a) have a higher likelihood of getting her to back down; and (b) have a higher likelihood of sticking.
The truth is, while in general most people don't like having juniors tell them off or speak down to them or tell them what to do, this is especially true in hierarchical workplaces like banking. You have a much greater chance at successfully getting this associate to back off and leave you alone by speaking to a VP/MD and having them pull her aside and give her a bit of a chat about managing priorities. I've been in a similar situation, where a 3 month MBA associate kept pulling me (and all the other analysts) aside to do random administrative BS, whilst we were all already stretched thin. The VP on one of my deals took them aside and said something to the effect of "unless the admin tasks you've got are generating revenue, they can wait, etc", following which, the onslaught stopped.
In any event, if she isn't capable of managing her priorities effectively, her time in banking will be short, and she won't be your problem anymore.
I'm probably going to get monkey shit for this but.......I've always found that the types that come in to a new firm as a lateral hire (or A0) and start dick swinging like a fleshy grandfather clock also rarely actually have a physical dick between their legs to swing.....
They are new so are anxious to prove themselves. Their behavior won't last long so I wouldn't be too concerned.
Possibly, but she’s actually good at the job and the senior people seem to think highly of her as well, and she’s only been here for under a year
I’m just unsure how to address the angst around non-urgent tasks
You can either speak with
1) Your direct reporting manager (an MD?) or
2) In your most urgent deal, speak to a senior member of that deal team (ie “Hey, I’m trying to make this deck my number one priority, but Associate X is asking for this so I’m not sure what to do)
I’ve personally done No 2 and it worked out for me: once a MD/D/VP realizes his or her own deal is at risk because their Analyst is being pulled away, they will go to Associate X and tell her to back off.
Bad idea - I've got to think your MD either (a) doesn't have the time / energy to dedicate any brainpower to this internal conflict or (b) will side with the associate for pushing deliverables on a long dated deal so MD doesn't have to dig in anybody's ass ETAing the team on why it's taken 2 weeks to get a copy of the WGL + Org Materials
Never ask to get de-staffed in IB. It creates conflict and shows that you cannot get along with people. It may sound silly but hey it’s IB..
If she just moved, she is establishing her own reputation and is trying to prove to seniors that she is good. Unfortunately if you have already been staffed with her, there is nothing you can do except talking to her.
Whenever I get staffed on something non urgent with a close deadline I always talk to the person and thank them for bringing me on, then I tell the person what I am currently working and the deadlines and urgeness of those tasks. I continue to say that I personally don’t care about timing of the projects, but if they wish my workload to be re-prioritized they should talk to the staffer or my other deal teams. Lastly, I ensure them that the things will be completed in time for the “real” deadline.
Works great in my group, but we have a very open culture where junior communication is highly valued.
This is a great response ^
Invoke someone more senior. Ie, "VP X has given me a hard deadline on this and I need some time to complete it - shall I check with VP X and/or MD Y as to if this should take priority?"
Needy Associates/VPs tend to fuck off when you ask them "Is our MD okay with me taking time away from his ask, to entertain yours?" obviously in much politer terms.
It also only takes one instance of your Associate/VP getting bitched at by a frustrated Senior Banker for them to fall back...
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