So I work in a team and I have seen an email on colleague 1's PC between him and colleague 2 bad mouthing me and making remarks.How best to tackle thisShould I just ignoreSpeak to them or one of themAnything else ?ThanksKonsultant

Same grade? More senior? More junior?Depends how much they hurt your feelings and how big your balls are. If you have a genuine grievance, go down the HR route.

Depends what they're saying...and whether it's justified

wait wait waitDo not go down HR route just yet. Make sure you get a few things clear first:- Was what they are saying really that bad or are you one of those "over sensitive" types. Remember you are in an MC after all. Grow a thick skin asap. Moaning etc is part and parcel of a bunch of wannabe tough guys trying to obtain a small number of Senior Mangt positions- Dig deep in yourself, has anything they are saying got backing? Are you as lazy as they think? Does your work lack quality and are you the 9-5 type that leaves all the work to the rest of the team? Are you terrible at client comms etc?If however, you are a consistent high performer and what they are doing is back stabbing with no reasoning or proof whatsoever behind it, then you could:- Take them into a room and give them a good dressing down. Explain nicely but firmly that if you ever get a sniff of them doing it again, you will escalate. Backup with an email as a final warning - Explain to them that they should not mistake your good manners for weakness- If it was that bad, have a quiet word with a non related colleague who is known to be a good sounding board. What does he think? They can sometimes come up with solutions that you have not thought of- Careful not to sound like a spineless moaning MC, hence why I am hesitant of the "go to HR! See the Partner!". Worthwhile trying to sort it out yourself first, then if it continues or it is not resolved, you escalateFinally, don't take it to heart. You know deep down if what they are saying is true or not. You are working in an MC and I am yet to work and see MCs that do not bad mouth each other. It is a sad fact of MCs. Surround yourself with MC colleagues who are more like you and don't like that side of MCs. But yes, lets nip it in the bud to see if we can minimise the bad mouthing

Isn't that a security breach to peak/break in to someone's PC ?

Thanks for the replies...So they are same grade, not junior and not senior.The only issue I have is it was over email and if I raise it concerns may be raised that I read emails. Again I didnt break into any PC but just read it on a colleagues PC over his shoulder.Option1 - I speak to them and ask why and if they have any issues with me.Option 2 - Speak and say exactly what Anon MC has recommended and warn them.Option 3 - Speak to the line managerOption 4 - Simply ignore and carry on with the job.Regards

Option 5 - Be thankful to them for freeing you of any sense of loyalty you have to the team. Start searching for new jobs, get a pay rise, and leave the back-stabbers to wallow in their vipers nest as you make your plans to swan off into the sunset with no sense of guilt whatsoever.

Bushy you are forgetting Option 6...Add their names to your [i]Book of Vendettas Which Must Be Settled in (Career Progression)Blood[/i]. Work like hell to get to seniority, then block their career development through Machiavellian networking.

Or read Cool's Book 'Biting the Pillow'...

When you become the big boss, make sure you hang a sign outside your office that says "Vaseline-Free Zone".

or if you are really[i] really[/i] senior, have some outside your office, like Holy Water.

lol :)

[quote]So I work in a team and I have seen an email on colleague 1's PC between him and colleague 2 bad mouthing me and making remarks.How best to tackle thisShould I just ignoreSpeak to them or one of themAnything else ?ThanksKonsultant[/quote]Living well is the best 'revenge' - ever!So, as some have mentioned, do your darn-est to progress yourself. Have a great life. You will be happy. You will make them miserable.There is no point worrying about what others think or even write about you (unless it is blatant libel in the public space). If I were you, I'd take not of what they wrote and if there is any truth in it, try to improve on those aspects. Who knows! You might end up turning them into allies.