If Only...

If only these people that I work with didn't constantly try to make themselves look good by making others look bad.

I am working on the biggest and most high-profile case of my career. It started out as an average case, but things escalated when I went on holiday. I have had to make it a joint effort with two colleagues, just because there is so much work.

I didn't pick the colleagues – they were assigned based on availability. Proper completion of the case means a sizeable bonus for all of us. Naturally, as the matter was originally my sole responsibility, I’m heading the team. I know I'm young, but I do not play when it comes to my professional life. All of a sudden, developments which occurred during my vacation are mysteriously surfacing – I'm being partly briefed and important information is surfacing only when it makes one person in particular look good.

I am growing very weary of these tactics – defending oneself whilst blindfolded isn't fun and it is messing with my blood pressure. I'm working out a way to expose this thuggery from a factual and non-confrontational manner. That's difficult because the managing partner is a wimp and laps up my colleague's saccharine sweetness. At least when someone in South London tries to jack you, they look you in the eye and tell you so.