It’s unpleasant, but your manager trying to push you out is a surprisingly common occurrence. It’s something that affects quite a large number of employees, partly because of employee targets.
So, what should you do if you notice this happening to you? What are the best tactics?
Recognise The Signs
You’ll want to start by recognising the signs. Some companies can be subtle, and others not.
The most common sign is that you’re reassigned for lower-level tasks or you receive constant criticism for your work which doesn’t take the form of helpful feedback. You may also notice that you no longer get credit for your achievements like you used to, or you’re literally being left out of meetings.
Stay Calm
Next, you’ll want to stay calm. While it might be tempting to retaliate, that’s generally a bad idea. Keep going as you always have and collect a paper trail showing your results and what you’ve achieved for the company. If you can collect this evidence, then it can massively boost your case. Sometimes, HR will get involved, and that can actually be a form of protection.
Update Your CV
Next, you’ll want to think about how you can update your CV to reflect your growing experience. Even if you’re being pushed out, the experience you’ve gained is usually worth a lot to future employers who need people with experience in similar positions.
You can also look at a jobs site that focuses on your niche to see what opportunities are out there, and start using LinkedIn. However, you’ll want to do this discreetly. Don’t alert your employer.
Schedule A Direct Conversation
Another thing you might want to try is to schedule a direct conversation with your manager. When you go into this conversation, you’ll want to be as diplomatic as possible. Just mention the changes you’ve noticed and then watch their response.
Some managers will be genuinely oblivious. In which case, you’re fine. Others will be defensive or evasive, which usually means that they intend to get rid of you. If they’re supportive, it may just be a performance issue.
Talk To Human Resources
You could also go down the HR route. This department is helpful if you have documented evidence of unfair treatment.
Aim to reframe these conversations as guidance. Get them to tell you what to do and how you can improve your situation.
Explore Internal Transfers
If the manager is the sole problem, then you could explore internal transfers. You could move from one department to another, something that a lot of firms actually support these days. Make sure that there’s a good reason for the move and that the new work will match your skillset.
However, if you work in smaller sized business or SME there might not be many opportunities to move departments. Be realistic about this and start to research the sort of companies you’d like to work for and suitable job roles that might be available.
Line Up External Options
Finally, make sure you line up all the external options you need. If you have prepared your exit strategy by keeping your CV up to date and maintaining your professional development you’ll be better prepared for a move when you’re ready. When the time is right make sure you have somewhere to go, then that takes a lot of pressure off you and allows you to continue fighting your case. Once you have a backup plan, your manager can’t hurt you.
At Aim Higher Training we are here to help you to develop yourself and guide your career. Contact us or book a chat if you are experiencing any of these issues at work, as we’re here to help.