APPRENTICE star and vice-chairperson of West Ham FC Karren Brady answers all your careers questions.

Today she helps out someone who is worried about informing her bosses about a colleague's mistakes and a mum who wants to motivate her teenage son.

Q) I work in my company’s accounting department and I recently went for a promotion to lead the team.

I wasn’t successful, but my managers gave me lots of helpful feedback, so I took it on the chin and was happy to support the new team leader they brought in.

However, it’s turned out to be a complete disaster, as he keeps making mistakes that could get us all into trouble. I’m scared to approach our bosses, in case they think it’s just sour grapes.

I have tried to point the new team leader in the right direction, but he is convinced he knows it all and doesn’t want to listen. What can I do?

Emma, by email

A) Firstly, sorry to hear about missing out on the promotion, but it’s good that you have listened to the feedback and you now have areas of improvement you know you should focus on, so that next time you can be successful.

I know it must be exasperating to report to someone who isn’t up to the job, but when a new manager comes in, there will be times when you have to bring them up to speed on issues, and they will sometimes do things differently from what you’re used to, so try to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Also, where possible, fill in the gaps that he is leaving, because if they are successful then your whole team will be, which will reflect well on you. But there is a big difference between having a difficult manager and having one that is inept.

Working under the latter can be stressful and frustrating, but before you do anything about it, be objective: are you 100% sure your new team leader is incompetent? Observe him closely for a few weeks and make notes of decisions that have led to mistakes.

Discuss your observations with your colleagues and then maybe collectively speak to your team leader. If things still don’t improve, the next step is to speak to your bosses.

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It aims to inspire other women and show that if these ladies can do it, so can you!

Read more at Thesun.co.uk/topic/bossing-it.

Q) My teenage son has struggled in the pandemic.

When lockdown hit last year, he was in the first year of studying for A levels in physics, chemistry and biology, but remote learning left him frustrated and unhappy, and he decided to drop out of sixth form.

My husband and I agreed we would support him in whatever he wanted to do.

But all his plans were geared towards studying science at uni, and he has no idea of what he would like to do now.

We’re both GPs and our only experience of the working world is in the NHS. How can we help advise him on his future?

Harriet, by email 

A) When my kids were struggling as teenagers, I always used to say that they wouldn’t remember being 17 by the time they got to 25, let alone 52 (my age now!), and what they thought was a huge issue then would simply fade into a distant memory.

So it’s important not to let your son’s experience of remote learning put him off doing what he wants long-term.

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My advice is for him to take some time off and reassess what his goals really are.

If he wants to work in science, I suggest a college course in applied science, which is the equivalent of A levels, or an apprenticeship course in something like lab technology, where you learn and earn at the same time, gaining hands-on experience in a working environment.

• Got a careers question you want Karren to answer? Email [email protected]

Compiled by: Claire Frost

Karren can not answer emails personally. Content is intended as general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice.

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