New readers start here:
One of the team, call him Bert, has been collaborating with an external supplier to produce an important component of our product. At the end of last year one of the project board, Len, got someone to a review of this component. The report was critical, only partly accurate, and discourteously worded. Len circulated the report to the board. When I asked permission to send it to Bert, he said no. The board decided to hold a fuller review, and then the report began to circulate within the project.

Bert was outraged, and the developers took his side and sent a protest to the board, objecting to them getting involved in technical decisions. Len is Bert's supervisor. I can only guess why he wants to wash his department's dirty washing in public. Bert has been badly treated, but the bottom line here is that any of us can learn when our work is reviewed. I told the board that one possible outcome is that Bert takes the lessons on board, and leads the process of improving this component.

Bert has sent a copy of the internal report to the external supplier. They sent a "reply" which actually contained enough admissions to make it clear that a review is needed. Bert sent a reply to the board which was at a level of technical detail that could not interest them.

I gave him an assignment to work on site with a customer that gives him a chance to shine, and takes him away from this controversy. After he went there, the customer sent an email to a wide distribution list, saying that the project was being mismanaged. It said, in defiance of the facts, that there were some other serious problems, and the review of this component should be deferred while they were considered.

He is the only one in his workplace working for our project. For each person in this situation, I have tried to find a local mentor, someone they can discuss things with, especially at moments when their trust for me is on a low. I was pleased to find someone in his office who he likes, and whose advice will be good. He never discussed over this challenge with him. That's something I better think about.

Ironically, Bert says that he's not interested in politics. I think this is sincere, but I'm sure it's not accurate. For the last few years, weak management by Len has rewarded this sort of behaviour from him, but I'm not so green as I'm cabbage looking, as my Grandma used to say.

That which does not kill us makes us stronger. He will face up to the bad news, and grow from it. Or not. At this point, I can't help him by being nice.

(Editor's note: my deepest apologies to the author for missing this post in the moderation queue for more than a week! --Dan)