Am I being pushed out of my job?

[Klondike92546]

Hi,

For reference, I am in a senior leadership role and think my boss is pushing me out. I had my yearly appraisal recently and it took a weird twist (I thought I had been performing quite well) as my boss indicated that they felt I wasn’t making enough impact and wanted me to work on that. They then went on to say that they couldn’t predict how the future will go in terms of direction of the business and they wouldn’t ‘stand in my way of going for other roles internally’ . I went away a bit deflated but got stuck into my work and felt really proud of what I achieved and could show impact with within a 4 week period ish.

fast forward a bit and I just had a quick meeting with said manager again and they casually dropped into conversation that the project. I was working on wasn’t driving fast enough/enough impact. I politely pushed back and listed things I had done which I thought showed impact, to which the reply was ‘ I think it’s in your best interest and the business to take you off the project and give it to a small group’.

Although I disagreed I remained professional and said the decision sounded already made, so. I would get on board and get my head down.

do you think this is the start of me being slowly forced out of the business? If so, any tips on what to do next?

Yes it does.

Don’t bury your head in the sand - and don’t waste energy working hard to prove they are wrong. The fact they want to move you is unlikely to be to do with you, they just want their own systems or their own people in.

They aren’t going to fire you just marginalise you until you get fed up, the company moves the elsewhere, or you get offered redundancy because your job no longer exists

It’s time to either move to another job within the company or move elsewhere.

From tomorrow switch your focus and effort to getting a new gig. Just phone it in in your current position.

Thanks , I thought was what they were trying to do. I have 5 years service so would be on track for a decent redundancy payout if they tried that route, due to enhancements would go to about 3 months pay. I think I am just going to apply internally as you say. Just can’t believe it may end this way after such a successful 5 years where I was genuinely thought very highly of and gained multiple promotions….

Have they specified exactly how you could increase impact?

It's such a nothing word, it could mean absolutely anything.

I had the same thing happen to me - though I am in middle management and worked for the company for less than a year. They put me on a PIP citing I would need to have more of an impact and improve stakeholder relationships but not being very clear what this meant - it was pretty vague. I resigned without completing the PIP - but suffered mentally thereafter as I had a 3 month notice period and lost all motivation for the role. It really undermined my confidence. I am also angry that I gave up a fantastic role at a a much respected global brand for my current company I was headhunted for. In my last job I was bullied by a toxic manager and now I was effectively being managed out despite my boss saying I was doing a relatively good job. Realised the role had changed drastically from the job description since I joined. Goal posts kept shifting and lots of politics happening behind my back. Think it was a cynical cost cutting exercise as the division I was assigned to support was merged with another and I was surplus to original requirements. They did the same to a senior leader in ky division. They have yet to advertise for my role 2 months on despite it being a hard one to fill - which reinforces my view that I got the chop as I was the easiest to get rid of. It still hurts and I am finding hard to focus on getting a new job as I am so angry that I did not retaliate or lodge a grievance. Understand completely how you feel and hope you've found something else.

If you feel you are, then you definitely are.

Sorry OP, and to PP, being treated shit at work is horrible 💐

It doesn’t sound good, however nothing is set in stone yet. Look around internally and externally, you can also just bide your time and wait for a redundancy offer- might be a sweet deal for you. It’s difficult but try not to take it personally- it’s most likely due to cost pressures or politics beyond your control.

@Klondike92546 Sorry that you're going through this.
Projects never turn out like the business case that gave them life. Sometimes they make reputations, sometimes they break them. Is there a chance that your boss is on thin ice or that the board have taken against the project?
Revise your plans and ensure that you deliver impacts that would impress a future employer as reflect well on internal applications and pitches.
In ten years time, your prospects won't be impacted by the current situation - if the business isn't supportive of you, focus on your own best prospects.
Good luck.