Personal/professional advice needed.

"Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street." (demon-xanth)
03/08/2016 at 12:58 • Filed to: None

I spent most of my career at a place where everyone had each other’s backs and everyone was well respected. But at the place I’ve been working at sometimes it feels like in every management level meeting someone is quick to throw me under the bus for one thing or another and I really don’t know how to take it. Does anyone have any advice?

DISCUSSION (11)

Azrek > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
03/08/2016 at 13:05

Are they tight knit and you are the new guy? Are they testing you?

I am super passive aggressive and generally got a double serving of sarcasm and no tact when God was handing out gifts...so I struggle at this alot.

I’d ask for realistic expectations on the goals and tasks you are assigned too by management since you are the new guy. If they can’t give it too you then you are in trouble as they are horrible managers.

CalzoneGolem > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
03/08/2016 at 13:07

That’s lame.

I had a boss that couldn’t remember anything and was always throwing whoever he could under the bus when he messed up.

It’s exhausting but you need to CYA on everything . Get everything in writing if you can. Additionally you cannot be aggressive or obvious about it or people will pile on you. Keep your head down and look for different job if you can.

kackel > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
03/08/2016 at 13:09

Find out about turnover. If they have a ton of turnover, you know it comes from ownership. If they have the same group of guys doing the same things and they’re tolerated by ownership, it’s culture. That’s just the way it’s going to be.

They could potentially see you as a threat to themselves. Happened to me for the first year+ at my current gig. Then ownership realized why sales went up 30% year over year, and everything is fine.

Ross Kraz > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
03/08/2016 at 13:28

Not sure what industry you are in... but I would say choose your battles.

Any time the problem gets passed to you, see if you can spin it in a positive way that shows you are working on it and making progress towards a solution. Then you look like the good guy.

You don’t want to look like a whiner by arguing back at the person or shoveling the blame to the next guy. Of course, in extreme cases, a strong counterargument may be necessary... (strong in evidence, not in tone).

d15b > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
03/08/2016 at 13:30

* Make sure they are specific in their details with whatever you’re working on.

* Repeat what they said and ask them if you understood correctly.

* Get it in writing.

HammerheadFistpunch > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
03/08/2016 at 13:35

CYA, double up on communications (especially trackable ones like email) and archive your email to a separate place on your machine regularly. OVER communicate and don’t screw up.

jariten1781 > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
03/08/2016 at 13:51

Are they throwing you under the bus because you’re not performing to standards (reasonable or not) or are they making shit up?

The first is tough. If you’re not hitting your marks you’ve just got to take it. It’s likely standard that new guys can’t hit them, but (especially if it’s competitive or commission based) you're going to get called out until you're up to speed.

The second is easy, just have all your ducks in a row and make sure you can pull out objective evidence that you’ve done what you were assigned on time/in budget/with quality. Don't take their shit.

JGrabowMSt > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
03/08/2016 at 13:52

I’m actually in a somewhat similar boat. Not getting thrown under the bus, but my knowledge and skills are being abused rather being utilized effectively.

I placed a quick call a few minutes ago, and was told to call back tomorrow and ask for one of the specific managers. If I get a similar offer, I wont even give notice. I’m not bound by any contract, and they don’t believe in two weeks notice, so I wont even waste my time with the commute in (38 miles each way) to let them know, I’ll just call them at 8am.

I may be young, but the past year has taught me that if I come out of the gate sprinting, and show too much knowledge, any new skills I pick up will not be valued as highly.

If it works out, I will finally (finally I say!) work in a sector of the automotive industry.

In the IT industry, there’s a very important phrase. Cover your ass. That donkey? Give it a blanket. Get things in writing, and in my case, I often times CC another boss just so there’s a record. We also use Office 365, so I’ll use OneNote, Calendar and Mail to keep things under control, and I fight back. Its not always a good idea, but I choose my battles. Don’t take shit, but don’t necessarily deal it either. Unless there’s no choice.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > jariten1781
03/08/2016 at 13:59

I believe it’s more related towards deflecting blame and preventing accepting responsibilities. I can’t defend myself because I’m not even there to do so. My boss backs me up and a few other people here have my back. But one particular person i know is like a bus driver in GTA3. I don’t want to go into any details on the internet just because that’s how people seem to get canned. The gist though is I’m doing a job that absolutely nobody wants to do with a large number of responsibility and basically zero pull or help and honestly biding my time until a different position opens up.

DutchieDC2R > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
03/08/2016 at 14:34

Since its only one person being an ass, maybe its a personal emotion theyre feeling? Like jealousy because youre doing a proper job or because your boss backs you up?

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > DutchieDC2R
03/08/2016 at 14:44

I believe there is more than one bus thrower in the meetings, but one in particular is quite frequent to pull that maneuver. Likely more in a “you didn’t blindly do what I wanted” kind of way.