Franke James is Editor/Founder of Office-Politics.com and Inventor of the Office-Politics® Game.

Peter R. Garber has worked as an HR professional for over 25 years and is the author of many business books including: Winning the Rat Race at Work and 100 Ways to Get on the Wrong Side of your Boss.

Dina Beach Lynch, is an Ombudsman, Author and former attorney. An award-winning mediator, Dina served as the Corporate Ombudsman for the 7th largest bank in the US helping over 48,000 employees to resolve workplace issues.

Dr. Rick Brandon is CEO of Brandon Partners. He has consulted and trained tens of thousands at corporations worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies across a variety of industries.

Dr. Marty Seldman is one of America's most experienced executive coaches. His 35-year career includes expertise in executive coaching, group dynamics, cross-cultural studies, clinical psychology, and training.

Arnie Herz, is a lawyer, mediator, speaker, author and consultant nationally recognized for his practical and inspired approach to conflict resolution and client counseling.

Dr. John Burton LL.B. M.B.A. M.Div. Ph.D. is an ethicist, mediator, lawyer and theologian. John is currently located in Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada, working with Canada's aboriginal communities.

My problem is with colleagues who walk in and sabotage my closes -- just before the customer either emails me the final trading agreement!

July 2005

Dear Office-Politics,

Hello. I work in TeleSales for a prominent courier company and share my territory with the Field Executives (Sales). I close my accounts over the phone while they walk in, cold call, prospect and close.

My problem is with colleagues who walk in to my customer's premises and sabotage my closes -- just before the customer either emails or faxes me the final trading agreement! They do it in spite of the customer telling them that he/she is already signing up with me.

Since we represent the same company the customers assume we are working together. The credit and the new business gained goes to the employee who co-signs the agreement. My copy of the agreement is of course discreetly disposed off.

This is affecting my goals, my incentives and my morale. There are two ofmy colleagues who do this most blatantly. My boss does have an idea of what is going on, but has not made any effort to talk to me. He is mostly traveling. One of these colleagues, is my boss's favorite. Last Friday heasked me to go and complain to whoever I saw fit.

I wanted to calm down first and approach this in a rational manner. Therefore I did not call up my boss. I want to complain to him about my disrespectful colleagues in the most effective manner, please advise.

Best Regards,

Very Upset

Dear Very Upset,

Calming down is the right idea. From a steady stance, you're better able to strategize how to approach the boss. What do you want him to do? What can you say that will make him want to do what you want?

Put yourself in your boss's shoes. He's under pressure, accountable for the whole team's performance. In short, he's driving the car; he doesn't want to take his eyes off the road because kids are squabbling in the back seat.

How can you show you're not just complaining, but thinking of solutions? Can you suggest a different way of tracking your performance, perhaps? Of logging agreements? Of sharing credit for accounts? Would the organization benefit from a switch in focus: from immediate sales to longer-term customer loyalty?

When you're calm, you may be surprised at how creative you can be…and how persuasive.

Thanks for writing to Office-Politics.

Betsy Raskin Gullickson
Co-author, On the High Wire: How To Survive Being Promoted
Consultant / Executive Coach