I Didn't See It Coming
Amy Dorn Kopelan
Bedlam Entertainment, Inc.
ven the most secure-seeming job is never completely
safe. Changes in a company’s direction... petty office politics...
a strained relationship with one’s boss... or any of a host of
other factors can cost even the most competent worker his/her job.
Amy Dorn Kopelan lost her position as head of morning
programming at ABC in 1995, when Capital Cities Communications
acquired the network. She had thought her job was safe because of
the high ratings of the morning programs. She failed to consider
that Capital Cities already had a skilled morning programmer and
had no need for two.
Kopelan, along with two other high-powered executives who lost
their jobs, decided to write a book on warning signs of workplace
trouble. Here are six career-threatening events and what to do
about them...
1. Your company merges or is acquired. Top-performing
employees often assume they will survive the layoffs that follow a
merger or acquisition, but an entire division might be eliminated,
taking the stars out the door along with everyone else... or the
acquiring company might already have someone in your role. Do not
feel completely secure even if your boss “guarantees” you that your
job is safe -- in the new company, your boss might not have the
power to make the final decision.
What to do: Consider how your skills and
talents could be applied elsewhere in your organization, and
discuss this with executives in those divisions. This increases
your odds of finding a safe haven should your current division or
position be eliminated. Also prepare an exit strategy.
2. Your boss loses power. If your boss falls
out of favor with the company’s top brass, his career is not the
only one at risk -- yours could be threatened as well. Your whole
department might be viewed negatively, stalling the careers of all
assigned to it... your boss’s favorable opinion of you will carry
little weight, making it harder for you to advance... and your
boss’s fall from grace could mean a new boss will soon take over,
which can create its own problems.
Signs a boss is losing power...
His demands become uncharacteristically
unrealistic as the pressure to produce
forces him to ask the impossible of underlings.
A consultant is brought
in to
study your department.
The departmental budget is slashed.
Your boss suddenly has trouble getting access to top
executives.
What to do: The safest strategy is to
attempt to transfer to a different department with a more highly
regarded leader. The more aggressive strategy is to put yourself
forward for your boss’s job. You could talk to a division head you
know or someone you have befriended in human resources to decide
how best to go about this. Attempt it only if you have specific
ideas for improving the department and a track record that suggests
that such a promotion is merited.
3. You get a new boss. It is not enough to
show your new boss that you are intelligent and hardworking. To
ensure that your career remains on course, you also must match your
style to that of your boss. Does he like to receive daily e-mails
from people who report to him or just the occasional verbal update?
Does he encourage an informal atmosphere or a buttoned-down
workplace? Does he like hard-driving go-getters or easygoing team
players?
What to do: New bosses often form lasting
opinions of their employees within minutes of meeting them, so it
is best to get the answers to these questions before the boss walks
through the door. As soon as you learn your new boss’s name, start
tracking down employees, clients and colleagues from his previous
positions who can fill you in. Be aware that word might get back to
the new boss, so frame your queries in a very positive way.
Example: “I’m really excited about
working with John and want to make a good impression. What can you
tell me about him?”
4. A coach is brought in. If your employer hires a coach
to help you improve your communications or conflict-resolution
skills, the appropriate response is to fear for your job. These
coaches typically are hired to spend time with executives whom
companies intend to fire. A report from an outside coach stating
that an executive was unwilling or unable to address his serious
communication problems will make it more difficult for this
executive to sue the company for wrongful termination later.
What to do: Listen to the coach, and
implement his advice even if you consider it silly or unnecessary.
Your company might have hired this coach to push you out the door,
but if you show improvement and maintain a positive attitude,
management might let you keep your job.
Exception: Consider it a
very positive sign if a coach is hired to help you with your
marketing skills. Marketing skills coaches generally are hired when
companies think an executive has excellent ideas but needs to learn
how to present them better. (If you are not sure whether a coach
hired to work with you is a positive or negative omen, find out
which department is paying the coach’s bill. Your career could be
in danger if it is the human resources department.)
5. You remind your boss of someone he is/was fond
of. It can
seem like a huge career boost when a boss takes a liking to you
based on a perceived similarity with someone else, such as a son or
daughter, spouse, protégé or even himself at your age.
In the long run, however, this is more likely to harm your
career than help it. Your colleagues could come to resent your
seemingly undeserved special treatment, making it difficult for you
to work with them. Or your boss could start to base his evaluations
of you on the abilities and actions of someone else, taking your
future out of your control and possibly hindering your career.
What to do: Consider whether there is
something in particular about your behavior or appearance that
triggers the association with this other individual. Take steps to
alter this similarity. Example:
If your boss treats you like a son and you find
yourself being deferential toward him, reposition yourself. Say
something like, “I’ve been thinking about what we discussed last
week, and I have a very different approach.” Also...
Establish boundaries if the boss seems to be trying
to get too close. If you are asked to join the boss for drinks or
dinner more often than your colleagues, thank him for the
invitation but say that you have previous plans.
Keep your colleagues on your
side by
standing up for their interests with the boss.
6. You are promoted ahead of your
peers. Being promoted in your
department bodes very well for your future -- but if mishandled, it
could derail your career. Some of your colleagues will resent you
for getting the promotion that they had hoped for. Others might
have trouble treating a former equal as the boss. If you cannot
convince the entire team to treat you with respect, you lose
effectiveness as a manager and your career could stall.
What to do: Do not celebrate your
promotion in front of your colleagues. This will only deepen any
animosities. Also...
Meet with each member of your new
team one-on-one, and reassure each
individual that you respect his talents.
Let team members take the
glory when
your team has success. You should claim credit primarily for
leading your troops.
If any member of your group cannot
adjust to
your new role, try to find the person another position elsewhere in
the company.
EXIT STRATEGY
It is important to prepare an “exit strategy” if you think your
job might be on the line. Network with others in your industry...
update your résumé ... contact headhunters... and try to quickly
acquire any important skills that you lack. This way, you’re all
set to look for a job if you need to -- and you might even land a
position before you are let go.