Licensee BadgeTraining Badge
Submitted by stenya on
in

Forums

BLUF: I need ideas about how to fend off a bad review and/or rehabilitate my image... or, alternatively, encouragement to just get the heck out. My org was recently acquired by a bigger and better company, and I don't know if I'll last long enough to move into one of "their" departments.

For background, I've had 5 really solid years with this organization - promoted twice, now managing the largest team in support of the biggest IT project. My boss resigned in January, and the team that replaced him has now sidelined me without saying what I've done wrong. Reassigned key responsibilities to others, cut my year-end bonus, etc. I still don't understand it.
 
I thought that if I supported the transition and kept on delivering results, things would eventually smooth out... but no. My latest boss (third one since January) told me that the senior leadership team now wants a list of "everything I've touched" since mid-last year, to be included with my upcoming review. I did it, and told him that I would rather hear now about concerns with my performance - not blindsided with a not-successful rating when I haven't had any opportunity to address the concerns. Especially with the acquisition, I think a below-par review NOW would effectively erase my last 5 outstanding reviews, and prevent me from applying to transfer into a different department.

I've re-listened to "My Boss Finds Fault With Me" and "Getting A Bad Review" to figure out what to do - and partly to get myself used to the idea of being an underperformer (!!). I'm just kind of baffled and angry over the whole thing, and would love to hear how you guys would handle it, in my shoes.

Thanks.

delete_account_per_reacher_145083_dtiller's picture
Training Badge

 

I say chin up, do your job exceptionally well and be professional at all times.  That is all you can do.  If you position is being eliminated or you are not being valued, well then at least you can leave knowing you tried your best.

If you receive negative feedback, take it gratiously and ask how you can do better and then do what is recommended.

Good luck!!

Dawne

jrosenau's picture

I think you need to wait it out and see what your review is like.  Maybe you've gotten more indications but from what you wrote, you may be making some assumptions that have yet to be proved out.  The review will prove them out.

Having said that, I've been through a merger and know it can be very stressful.  It is good you stuck it out as that looks good from an experience standpoint.  You should continue to build your network and reach out to your contacts to ensure that if you realize that you are not on the same page as the company, you can make a graceful exit if you decide that is the best route to take.

Good Luck.

John

timrutter's picture

Continue to do great work, solicit as much feedback as you can from your boss, strengthen your professional network and get your feelers out into wider the industry.

Tim

RoMaJo's picture

Whenever you are asked to write down everything you've touched, then you can be sure that they are looking for work overlap so that they can consolidate, as well as for work they can get rid of entirely.

When you tell them what you've touched, you are confirming what they already know as well as telling them what they had no clue about.

For sure, they are reviewing your work, but not necessarily to find a reason to give you a bad review. In fact, they might use it to offer you a better severance than you might otherwise receive.

In the past month, this very situation happened to two of my siblings. Both were laid off.

In the first case, her position was eliminated.  In the second case, they added her work to that of two other people.  It wasn't personal. It was business.

So, yeah, be dignified, be graceful, and have Plan B in case they let let you go.

RoMaJo

Mattias's picture

When people move to a new position at a new company there are always a lot of uncertainties about if the "new" place is going to be a good fit, the upside is one usually get a decent pay bump for the risk taken.

In this case its like you moved positions without getting the paybump. You don't seem to have the good will and sense of job security you previously had. I would take the opportunity to contact a recruiter and get my resume in tip top shape.

stenya's picture
Licensee BadgeTraining Badge

Appreciate all of your comments and support - since I wrote this post, my department has been dissolved and my team has been absorbed into yet another department. No layoffs yet, though that's a not too distant possibility... so yes, Plan B is definitely on the front burner.

Thanks,

Chris

stenya's picture
Licensee BadgeTraining Badge

Well, I've come full circle on this topic -  my position was eliminated today, along with ~10 others from my department. The waiting is over. I feel really good about what I accomplished in that position, my directs still have their jobs, and I'm not sorry to be leaving it behind at this point.

Of course, I was heartened by great advice and support from so many of you... and listening to the "Getting Laid Off" cast helped me get ready WAY in advance of this day. You should go listen to it. :-) www.manager-tools.com/2007/11/getting-laid-off-finances-rule

We're heading out to see Enders Game and have some Thai food tonight - tomorrow, the job search will be turned up to 11.

Thanks again for your help during this challenging year!

Chris

timrutter's picture

 Sounds like it wasn't about you, but about your position Chris.