Your thoughts about reporting line manager

I’m a new hire in this organization, I found myself in a dual reporting role, officially reporting to a solid line manager and, collaborating closely with a dotted line manager. My solid line manager had been a steady force professional, communicative, and supportive. Over time, we developed a positive dynamic not just in our work but also in our mutual respect and personal rapport. It was the kind of manager employee relationship most professionals hoped for.

However, the dynamic with my dotted line manager was…different.

From the start, there were subtle signs passive-aggressive remarks, unexplained coldness during meetings, and a tendency to sideline ideas that didn’t originate from their corner. I initially chalked it up to stress or personality differences. But over time, it became harder to ignore. There were mood swings, emotional outbursts that seemed disproportionate to the situation, and behavior that bordered on being childish. I found myself constantly second guessing simple interactions.

What made the situation more confusing was that my team was thriving. We consistently met our goals, earned positive feedback, and maintained good morale. Meanwhile, the team under the dotted line manager was grappling with frequent escalations and mounting pressure from leadership.

I started to wonder was the issue really about me, or was I a convenient target for unprocessed frustration?

The emotion from the dotted line manager began to affect me not just professionally, but personally. I questioned my actions, doubted my instincts, and worried that any success my team achieved was inadvertently fueling resentment.

Eventually, I realized this wasn’t just a matter of office politics, it was about emotional maturity, and how not everyone handles stress, comparison, or collaboration in the same way. I couldn’t control how others behaved, but I could stay grounded in professionalism, focus on what I could influence, and keep communication transparent and respectful, even when it wasn’t reciprocated.

What are your thoughts? Btw, this dotted line manager never experienced handling a team since this manager was a previous individual contributor manager.