Personal improvement plan...I want to leave

[Sadandstressed5]

I've had a personal improvement plan sprung on me . I'm not happy about it because all of the work I've been doing I've not been shown how to do , but I'm happy to up skill and learn. I've only been there for 6 months, passed probation no problem. I was already looking for other work as I don't like how the place is run, a lot of micro management

But my reaction to it is extreme. I've been out of the workplace for many years prior to this raising a family. I'm in my 40s. I suppose it's shocked me and my reaction is to immediately want to go on sick leave , find a new job and then leave as soon as possible. I feel like I now hate the place and my colleagues and can't see how I can stay. I'm annoyed that nothing was brought to my attention prior to this and then just spring the PIP from nowhere
Any advice on how I deal with this. I was told about it on Friday, Meeting is Monday morning. I will be gracious and agree to everything they say but inside I will be screaming and wanting to run out of the place.
I've been my own boss and in charge of my own life for so long I suppose I'm struggling with the adjustment of being told what to do and scrutinised. I believe I'm a hard worker and I come across as pleasant and eager .
Had a big argument with husband today over it as of course he's wanting me to continue working there whilst I look for other employment but I just don't feel like I can now .

I understand where you are coming from OP.

In our office a PIP is something you would put a poor performer on to make sure you had fully documented objectives and expectations. It's not something I would do to a colleague who had never been spoken to about performance and had simply asked for instructions in a new area.

That being said, go in on Monday and listen to what they say with your lips zipped shut until they finish. It may be in this office that a PIP doesn't have the same connotations it does in others, and I guess the good thing about it is it will clearly state expectations so if you meet them then there's documented evidence.

This is all very extreme, as you yourself admit. And quite immature, it reads like a toddler tantrum.

take it in the spirit it’s intended, you don’t know how to do some elements, they are addressing this.

and try to dial down the hyperbole, at least at home. I assume you’re working for a reason.

would you simply rather not?

You passed probation so you can't br that bad.

They could also get rid of you as less than 2 years service so you can't be that bad.

It seems like they want to improve things rather than just get rid of you.

By your own admission, you are struggling with some things. This is an opportunity to get the training that will help.

I've been there, done that, OP. It's a short term thing if you do well.
When one of our bosses at work was leaving the team, at his
Presentation, the boss recounted how they had worked together many years ago while relatively junior in their careers and had congratulated one another on a job well done after a particular task. The punch line was that their boss at the time didn't think so and put them on an action plan to improve them.
This was told as an amusing anecdote, and of course, they'd both had several promotions since the action plan.
It does wound the pride, but take everything you can from it, ask for the targets and expected end points, and then smash it, OP!

Hard workers don't go on sick leave when they're perfectly well to go to work. Agree with others that it's an OTT reaction and you need to be grown up and engage with it not run away from dealing with issues you find uncomfortable. Your organisation doesn't sound the greatest, many places aren't, but it's a process that could help you and them to work better. Flouncing off because you're insecure about criticism isn't going to help anyone.

I'm bristling for you OP, so safe to say my reaction would be exactly the same as yours was and I'd be assuming, unless it was made very clear to me otherwise, that this was somehow the first stage of a capability procedure.

Hopefully it will become clearer on Monday.

It is completely normal to feel upset/defensive/ want to run away when you feel you are being criticised. It's a self- defence mechanism that you probably have no control over, you can either act on it or recognise it for what it is, engage with the process and try and ride out the discomfort.

As a manager no one I've given negative feedback to has been comfortable. I reckon many would feel like you - I would! But it's the ones who still engage despite that who tend to come out the other end well.

I think lots of people can just about hold their head above water to get through probation but then their mask slips and they reveal themselves to be inflexible, incompetent and overly sensitive about every suggestion that's ever made to them. We've got someone at work like that who was charming until she got through probation.

@decionsdecisions62 well that certainly isn't me. The work I've been doing for the 6 months I've been there has been quality checked at 100% and all my feedback has been excellent. I loved what I was doing and I was good at it.
I've been moved on to something else to cover someone being off ill. I've been doing it for 2 weeks and have not been told how to do it so I have had to guess. They must have checked some and they weren't right so now instantly put on pip

Well maybe you could welcome the opportunity to have some support with the new role. String for your bow if you do decide to leave and a widening of your skills. Everyone's monitored now days so don't take it personally.

This is very harsh and uncalled for. The OP has been clearly struggling with the concept of PIP due to how differently it can be perceived. No need to use the words "flounce" and "grow up" to get your point across.

the psychology around being marked as an under performer and having to be put in the equivalent of "special measures" is damaging to morale and can feel threatening and stigmatising,

The OPs employer has not managed this well at all, so I'm not surprised the OP feels disoriented and confused by the process. It seems very heavy-handed when they ought to be providing support in terms of training.

the last time I checked I wasn't put on a PIP to receive training! I just enrolled and took the training and there was no black mark against me. They clearly haven't heard of the concept of the Learning Organisation where the culture is supportive of people having gaps in their knowledge and wanting to remedy it with the right instruction and guidance, not pointing the finger, labelling them or blaming them.

Do the performance plan and pretend you are happy.

Apply for other jobs and when you get one hand in your notice. During your notice do the absolute minimum and take a few days sick to boot.

There is no point at all in being negative or kicking up a fuss.

Sounds like a completely fucking shit place to me, OP, what an awful way to treat people. Look for another job and take whatever sick leave you need.

What absolutely appalling advice. Grow the fuck up yourself. There are loads of jobs and no-one has to be stuck with an organisation that "isn't the greatest" for a moment longer than they need to.

@Sadandstressed5 how did Monday go ?