How do you deal with colleagues who "trump" you?

Situation: I have a colleague. We are exactly equal on the totem pole. However, we are responsible for entirely different things.

I have the right (and obligation) to assign things to her subordinates.

They complain to her and then she trumps me. Then, I take the heat for not doing the things I'm supposed to do.

How would you handle this? What would you do??

Re: How do you deal with colleagues who "trump" you?

Hm...that's difficult - I was never in a situation where I was a subordinate and had to report to someone that's on the same level as my manger, but I don't report to.

Right now I report to let's say Mike...and then there's another group that reports to John....while i do work along with memebers from John's team - Mike does not have managerial lines to John's team and vice-versa.

However, in your situation, I would speak to her manager to clarify whether or not you are indeed permitted and how they should resolve it.

Re: How do you deal with colleagues who "trump" you?

Question: Does she know you are assigning them work at the time it is assigned, or only after they complain to her?

Re: How do you deal with colleagues who "trump" you?

Re: How do you deal with colleagues who "trump" you?

Why are they complaining? Is it because they don't want to do the work or is it because they have too much to do?

I would try to talk to her first about the situation and explain the problems you are having. If they are complaining because you assign work and then she assigns work and they can't get it done, maybe you can work out an arrangement with her where you can try to coordinate who is assigning what work to each person.

I would try to resolve this with her first before you speak to a higher up.

Re: How do you deal with colleagues who "trump" you?

I would document the assignments in writing (email) with a cc to her. If she later tells them they don't have to do the work, I would have a talk with her.

If that didn't work, I would take it to the person you report to and explain that the system in place for delegating work doesn't seem to be too effective and propose something else.