How to turn things around

Anonymous

August 25,2022 at 2:17PM UTC

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How to turn things around

I’m hoping someone who works or manages in a corporate environment can help me.

I like my job and want to stay at the company. Due to turnover with the manager who hired me, I won’t be moving up at year-end like they’d planned.

I am a high performer with reviews and pay bumps that show it. I’m also a good collaborator and very vocal; both helped getting projects done. I’m seeing others advance faster and it’s hard not to be frustrated.

I vented to the wrong person who I suspect took it to leaders. In our environment, not talking is not an option. Acts of avoidance or not sharing is also reported back.

I’ve also been vocal about wanting tasks I was covering to go to the new hires in those departments. I feel that would free me up to develop in my department.

I feel like my voicing concerns-what others call complaining-is also straining my close work relationships.

I’m not sure how to go about a self attitude adjustment and how to create fulfillment that isn’t based on promotions.

Have any of you been were I’m at? Have you managed someone like me? What steps or actions do you recommend that will help improve my outcomes?

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AprilAugust 25,2022 at 3:43PM UTC
What a difficult predicament. I'm sorry things are not going as planned. Don't fret... perhaps these suggestions may help...
HOW You Communicate Matters
Instead of phrasing your requests as wants or "demands" so that you can improve your department, you could use something more open like:
"I was wondering what you think about new hires in [department name] taking some of [that other department's name] tasks that I'm currently doing. The benefits would be keeping [that department's] tasks together which will facilitate better collaboration within their department. In addition, [name your department] development would also benefit with a change like this."
Asking "wondering" is like an invitation to the recipient(s) to be a part of the conversation and gives them some control as well.
WHO You Communicate With Matters
Although your intentions are for the betterment of the company, vocalizing your concerns to many can be considered complaining. Find a few people you absolutely trust to bounce your ideas off of. These should be people who know the company well, are trusted to help you succeed, and hold confidence in high regard.
Change Your OUTLOOK
Look for things to celebrate each day, whether it be work-related or not. When we are under a lot of stressed and overwhelmed, we tend to focus on the things that aren't going right (or our way) because we want to fix them. Give your mind a rest and look for bright spots. Retraining your "mind muscle" can be difficult; it takes practice and requires intentional thinking. Start small: a great parking space, a door being held open, a compliment, even a nice breeze on a hot summer day. As you train your mind to see things differently, you'll notice more things that are going well - which may begin to far outweigh the things not going great.
WHAT You Communicate Matters
When you speak to others, find good things to say about them or the work they're doing. Just as you need to feel like you matter, so do they. Why is this important? Because if they know you notice them and appreciate them, they are more willing to go to bat with you. Instead of you wanting to grow your department, wouldn't it be great if everyone in your department wanted that - and started sharing that with management?
I hope these help you and I wish you the very best.
JJAugust 25,2022 at 7:49PM UTC
Great advice below but also it does not sound like an awesome company. Maybe it’s not all you.
AnonymousAugust 26,2022 at 5:48PM UTC
I hear a lot of venting, but what I’m not seeing or hearing about is what is your plan? Do you have a strategic plan for your career track? Have you reached out for a mentor to work on this to help establish a path for 5yrs and 10yr? If not, that would be better use of your time. Have you networked with those in leadership and asked them, hey how did you go from here to there. You would be surprised how much you can learn by simply asking. People like to talk about themselves and it is a good way to establish good rapport with leadership to show you take an interest in how they got to where they are. Also ask about what problems are they trying to solve and think through how your skills can fit into solving that puzzle. Set aside time to discuss some of those ideas and see what resonates with them, refine those ideas and go back to them. This is how leaders scope out other leaders. Build those networks and relationships. Also, never ever say anything to another coworker you would not say in front of an exec. Every Coworker is competition so if someone sees you as such and they fear you might get in the way of their promotion or progress you should expect for them to use anything and everything you say against u. Even if you are in an environment where they expect everyone to be social and open, you can still have meaningless conversations without perjuring yourself. Learn how to pivot conversations to topics that are unblameworthy….the easiest are anything that involves food, sports or entertainment. You can never go wrong there,
AnonymousJanuary 9,2023 at 5:39PM UTC
Thanks for the helpful replies. I took the time to share my ideas, help with more senior responsibilities and also observed that the grass isn’t always greener. Those promotions sometimes meant people were doing 2 jobs.
I was asked to work on a very high level and complex project but without a change in title or pay.
I ended up taking a position at a different company and wouldn’t you know it - I was asked by my then employer to stay on with promotion and higher pay than my new offer.
The promotion would only move some of my responsibilities and came with the caveat that if that person fell behind, I would need to help them.
I was sad to leave such a great team, but it was the right call for me.