I (F) recently stepped into a new “manager” role that’s supposed to be focused on mentorship and employee engagement. I don’t have direct reports (nor did I expect any), but I sit between Operations and Supervisors. On paper, I have Ops Mgr Title and report to the director. When I asked about structure, the director said Ops would take the lead since they’re managers in practice, but my project corner was meant to be mine to design and launch. Here’s the issue: the Ops Mgr I was paired with treats me like a sup and I feel micromanaged at every turn. • She regularly criticizes my work and insists I need her approval, though my director never said that. • Once, a rep posted something inappropriate in a department chat. Ops leadership was tied up, so I simply DM’d “please delete that, thanks.” That was it. Later, I was told I had overstepped because “they aren’t my reports,” and even my director lectured me about “blurring the chain of command.” I never disciplined anyone, I just corrected something obvious. • In meetings, when I ask questions to understand context, she tells me to stop, it’s not a concern of my role. • I was told a general launch goal, but no deadlines. When I ask for clarity/justification on why I’m being directed to not engage, I get nothing useful, yet I’m somehow not “focused enough.” To reassure her, I created share points, gave her my roadmap, playbooks, and files, something I offered on my own, and I’m still treated like I’m behind. Today really set me off. At 10AM I sent her my files (which was about 9 weeks of Completed content) and projections. Her response was “sounds good.” I took that as confirmation I was on track. If she thought otherwise, I’d expect her to say it then or ask for more detail. Two hrs later, after sending only three quick messages in a chat with 50+ people talking nonstop, she DM’d me: “You need to focus please.” That quickly escalated and turned into a back-and-forth where I felt like I had to justify just talking to colleagues and that lightly engaging doesn’t mean I’m behind. When I asked for clarity again, I received “ Your project is your job. You need to be utilizing all free time to it. That’s it.” Huh? I just gave you my roadmap, am I missing something? For context, I’m not slacking. I went back & counted and I sent 17 messages in an 8hr day. That’s hardly over engaged in a busy team chat. I see participating as critical: building presence, showing curiosity, and understanding how operations run feeds my growth. I don’t think asking questions should be treated like a flaw. I’ve tried to stay polite, but it feels like whatever I do gets painted as disrespectful or insubordinate to the entire ops team. I don’t want to be a pushover, but I also don’t want to tank my reputation or lose this opportunity. AITA for being frustrated that my curiosity and professional growth is being discouraged, and standing up for myself, or am I overreacting and misunderstanding normal corporate dynamics?