Q: I came here to get away from a bad manager. Everything was great until– I can’t believe it– I got layered. Ugh! This guy doesn’t even know what I do.
A: Sounds like you have a several things going on: (1) an unexpected organizational change, (2) a change in your reporting relationship that can effect your status, access, (3) a new manager who didn’t hire you and with whom you have no previous work experience. That’s a lot of change.
So, no surprise that you have been pushed back on your heels–a flood of change can do that. The downside is that it triggers a pattern–holding fast to your familiar anchors. That is, holding on to what you know. We do that by assuming, which leaves us with our feet nailed to the floor.
Assuming is a fall-back position that allows us to fit people, events and ideas into neat tidy boxes so that we can get a handle on what is going on. However, remember that when you assume, you make an “ass” out of “u” and “me.” In other words, what we think we know blinds us to what is. I know that I have been in that situation before.
Take off the blinders by asking the following questions:
- Given the change, are your skills, relationships and knowledge relevant?
- How will you contribute to your new manager’s success?
- What projects can you initiate that will be critical or important to the organization’s new direction?
- What steps have you taken to create a trusting relationship with your new manager?
Remember that it’s up to you to adjust to the new reality and make it work for you. That’s why so many self-help books stress resilience and agility. But you do not have to change who you are to be successful. Just keep in mind the following:
