What should I do if a team member keeps going around me to senior management?

An engineer regularly bypasses you and raises issues directly with your boss, often without context.

This usually isn’t just about behaviour—it’s about trust, clarity, or perceived speed.

Start by assuming positive intent. They may feel they’re escalating risks quickly, or that they’re not being heard.

First, speak to them directly. Keep it non-confrontational: “I’ve noticed a few things going straight to [senior manager]. Help me understand what’s driving that.” You’re trying to surface their reasoning.

Then reset expectations. Be explicit about how escalation should work. For example: critical issues = immediate escalation (including you), everything else = come through you first.

Next, close the loop with your manager. A quick alignment conversation avoids mixed signals: “If something comes to you directly, can you loop me in so I can manage it properly?”

Finally, make it easier to come to you. Faster responses, clearer decisions, and visible follow-through reduce the need to bypass.

• Have a direct conversation to understand their intent
• Define clear escalation paths and examples
• Align with your manager on how to handle bypasses
• Improve your own responsiveness where needed
• Reinforce the agreed approach consistently

Taking it personally and reacting defensively instead of clarifying expectations.

Helps you map the situation objectively before reacting and gives prompts to structure the conversation. It also tracks patterns so you can see if behaviour is improving.