When you join a new company, your hopes are high that you will be provided all the necessary advice, guidance and tools to succeed at your new job. You want your manager and the company to set you up for doing your best work. This includes being told about expectations and offered training, resources and clear communication from your supervisor as to perform your duties well.
Once you’re up and running, it’s essential to receive regular feedback, constructive criticism and psychological safety so you can continue to improve without fear of being micromanaged. Encouragement, transparency and recognition of accomplishments will set a person up for being happy, motivated, engaged and productive. Unfortunately, sometimes, workers don’t receive the necessary attention, advice, directions, support and encouragement to thrive.
Being Set Up For Failure
Some people start a new role and feel overlooked and lost. The onboarding process is long and tedious, requiring hours of paperwork. You are not introduced to your direct supervisor. You’re ordered to go to a cubicle and are left alone for hours without any instructions.
When your manager finally comes around to check on you, you’re already feeling a pit in your stomach feeling that this may have been a bad decision that you’ll ultimately regret. The boss comes across as curt, cold and unemotional.
Your supervisor doesn’t say, “I’m so glad to finally meet you face-to-face, and not through video this.” Instead, there is a sweaty, lackluster handshake, followed by a harangue of orders that you must do within a tight deadline. Your cubicle neighbors come by and warn you that you need to beware of the boss, as he’s had three people come and go within a month or two.
Your new manager scolds you in front of others, stating that you’ll miss the deadline for the project and need to work on it over the weekend. After a while, you notice a pattern of bullying, neglect and overwork by placing too many responsibilities and tasks on you without the appropriate guidance and advice.
You hope things will improve and that this treatment is an aberration. You justify your boss’ bad behavior by telling yourself that he must be going through his own challenges at work and at home. Despite hoping for the best, there is a constant micromanaging and complaints over your work product. Your supervisor sends out a memo revoking remote and hybrid work models. Now, you’ll need to commute into the office five days a week, which wasn’t part of the offer letter.
It’s understandable that your engagement and enthusiasm for the new job plummets. You are left feeling left out, neglected and disengaged from work.
Quiet Firing
When your manager sets you up for failure, they may be quietly firing you. Quiet firing is a tactic used by bosses where they are subtly pushing you out the door by making your work life untenable.
Other Signs You Are Being Set Up To Fail
- The manager dumps a huge amount of work on your desk and you’re expected to get it all done right away, which isn’t fair or reasonable.
- You start to get the cold shoulder from your manager, and notice that you are no longer on email chains from the boss.
- You are no longer required to attend the meetings you regularly attended.
- Your boss becomes critical of everything you do and recommends placing you on a performance improvement plan.
This is designed to pressure you to leave on your own accord. It looks like he’s setting you up for failure and looking for an excuse to fire you.
How To Respond To The Warning Signs
If the job market in your sector is tight without a lot of new hires happening, you may want to speak with your boss to hold onto your job until things get better or you can find a new opportunity.
Prior to having a meeting with your manager, gather any documents, notes and anecdotes about how you’ve been treated. You don’t want to immediately go on the attack. Calmly and dispassionately inform your boss—and it would be helpful to have a human resources professional present as well—about how you are feeling. Share stories about the lack of support, guidance and feedback, along with the push for putting in long hours and being given unrealistic deadlines.
Turn The Table On Your Boss In Your Favor
Politely let your manager know that this job is important to you and want to succeed in the role. Ask your supervisor to specifically articulate their goals for you. Inquire as to how performance is measured.
Find out why so many people have come and gone in this position. Seek out a way to start fresh. Establish a regular time to meet and discuss what is on the agenda, high priorities and what would be the best outcome. Let your manager know that feedback and occasional praise for a job well done will go a long way in making you feel more appreciated, engaged and productive. Hopefully, this open and honest conversation will turn things around for the better for both you and your boss.
Source: Forbes
