Insubordination
Manager
Firm
Handling an employee who ignores your direction
A report keeps doing it their way after you have given clear direction.
Strategy
Separate disagreement from non-compliance. Invite the disagreement openly, then make clear that the decision holds once it is made. Document it.
We need to be clear with each other. I asked twice for the migration to run through staging first. Both times it went straight to production. That is not a preference, it is the requirement. If you think the requirement is wrong, tell me now and make the case. Once we finish this conversation, I need it followed.
If they push back
If they say the process slows everything down: "That may be true, and I want that argument in writing so I can take it up. Until it changes, staging first. Are we aligned?"
What not to say
- Because I am the manager, that is why
- You are being insubordinate
- I should not have to say this twice
- Do you want to keep this job
Follow-up
Confirming our conversation: all deploys route through staging, no exceptions, effective immediately. Send me your case for changing the process by Friday and I will take it to the platform team.