Complete panic. Boss wants to talk.

[WitchesWood]

i phoned my managed today to ask her something and she said to me “I was going to talk to you tomorrow anyway so we can chat about it then”

I didn’t ask her what about and now I’m going out of my mind with worry.

This has happened before it’s always been fine but I’ve been prescribed Diazepam to control the panic but I don’t have any in the house. I feel like my brain is creating false memories of things I’ve supposedly done that I could be in trouble for. I’m wracking my brain trying to think of what I might be disciplined or sacked for. I’m even looking for a new job.

I don’t know how I’m going to get through the next 24 hours. I feel utterly sick.

Your anxious brain will always go to the worst case scenario (from a fellow anxious person)

I’d say your options are

1. call your manager again before the end of the day and ask what tomorrow’s meeting is about - explain that it’s made you worry and I’m sure she’ll ease your mind
2. try to focus on other stuff until tomorrow, go for a walk, binge watch your fav show, have a bath. And then in the meeting tomorrow explain to her that when things are left on a cliffhanger like that it makes you anxious so I’m future you will ask for clarity and could she please let you know what to expect to stop you overthinking. A good a manger will want to know how they can best manage you

I do want to call her but I’m just really worried it’ll make me look ridiculous.

If you were subject to disciplinary action, your boss would have to offer you a person to be with you during the meeting and formally, in writing invite you to the meeting, they also have to tell you what it's about.

Are you sure she doesn't just want to chat?

Ughhh as a Manager I make a specific point of not doing this to people. If it's not a regular meeting I will either provide an outline of what is to be discussed, or I tend to just catch people when they are available.

I would think it's unlikely to be bad news on the basis that it would be very very calous to execute giving bad news like that.

To be fair my manager is lovely, I’m sure she wouldn’t want me to feel like this regardless of what the meeting was about. I’m worried someone will have put in a complaint about me, I’ve found the job very stressful recently due to understaffing issues and maybe haven’t done my best but I feel like I won’t be able to show my face if I’ve made a mistake.

i phoned my managed today to ask her something and she said to me “I was going to talk to you tomorrow anyway so we can chat about it then”

People who do this are The Worst. I had a university supervisor say something similar a couple of years ago and I was at my wits end with everything as it was so just emailed her and said "Would you mind giving me a brief overview of what you'd like to discuss tomorrow to help alleviate the instant panic that I'm now having?" she replied and told me what it was about and then said she hadn't thought about how she phrases things like that before and will be clearer when she books meetings etc from now on, which I thought was a great outcome.

Don't turn yourself inside out with worry, just ask. So much stress and panic can be alleviated by just communicating.

I wish more managers were like you and realised the impact that 'just asking for a chat tomorrow' can have on people.
OP, please ask what the meeting is about so hopefully your worries are allayed. If it is something else then forewarned is forearmed as they say.

I know that panic OP. I’ve become slightly better these days. I find it helps to either be honest about how much panic their words have caused, or to remind myself that they would have to ask more formally for anything serious, then put it out of my mind.

I've had a lot of jobs, a lot of managers, and none of them have ever sprung bad news on me in this situation. Every time it's just been something random like a shadowing opportunity, or they want me to be the Sustainable Printing Champion or something equally pointless.

I would bet all my money it won't be something negative in your situation.

This happens a lot at my work and a few of us have since explained that it makes us feel anxious. I react similarly to you OP. It's fine to ask what it's about and give them some context as to why you need to know.