Juniper is the creation of Philip Augar and Joy Palmer. Augar worked in investment banking for 20 years with Schroders and NatWest and Palmer is an executive coach and adviser to many leading financial services companies. The problems below are based on real-life experiences in the industry. Juniper first appeared in The Rise of the Player Manager by Augar and Palmer, Penguin, in July 2002.

One of my team is jostling with me for the leadership position. A few weeks ago he went to see my manager to undermine my decisions on our strategy. Other colleagues tell me that he has plans to take over our group. I reacted graciously by taking my rival out for a "friendly" drink during which I apprised him that his job is to make me look good if he wants to get on. You would think he had taken the hint, but today in a cross-divisional meeting he again challenged some of my ideas. I don't want to fire him but I do need to get my message across. What can I do? Charlie B.