Dear Mayank,
I am a 32-year-old working professional in media and marketing.
I tremendously enjoy what I do and share a very good rapport with my colleagues. However, the new team leader I am assigned to is notorious to deal with. It's getting increasingly challenging to work under this new person who doesn't give credit or provide any sort of feedback at work. Moreover, I see absolutely no scope for learning or growing under this leadership. I love this workplace and my job, but I am in dilemma about whether I should look out for new opportunities or stay put. Kindly help. 

None of us knew what the Pandemic would mean and what it would do to our businesses or work or home. It has managed to create new situations that we have no idea of how to handle.

This has caused a lot of anxiety and strain and we have perhaps begun to imagine the worst.

But what if I tell you that the situation is changing and so will the situation at your office?

Will you be inclined to believe that?

Even the top management is behaving in a wayward manner as this is all new to them; especially working from home for many and not much facetime which I guess as a Sales guy you are used to.

Since the response from the markets are not so good, it is bound to show up as a poor performance on your record, this is a valid concern…but to go into work, everyday keeping this in mind may not be effective even with the smallest of tasks as the anxiety keeps you on the edge not doing much but worrying to save your job.

Also, what happened to your colleague may not happen to you. So why focus all your energies on something that may not happen?

Instead, simply focus on ‘realistic’ targets that are achievable at this time.

Also, since you have joined only early this year, I do feel, it is imperative for you to know really your hierarchy and reporting structure. If there are conflicts at the top and you are bearing the brunt, either you need to roll up your sleeves and ace the politics that possibly others are facing too or simply do what you can.

Step back and observe what is going on and for this, you need to be a little calm to understand the WHY of 4 bosses!

It may all but be an imagined stress and it might just need a bit of a tweak to be in a better rapport with each of them.

Sometimes, what is little, becomes big in the mind as it is cluttered with a lot of if and buts with either lack of information or simply creating stories out of apprehensions and fears.

Please take care of your health and this helps keeping the mind in a better space to deal with what is going on.

Ultimately, tell yourself: “NOTHING IS WORTH STRESSING OVER SO MUCH. Everything falls into place, once I take charge!”

Take charge and take care of your health. Best wishes.

Hi.

You can take 2 immediate steps.

First, get your KPI and goals clearly defined in writing so that you have clarity as to what you need to do.

Secondly, since you have been in the job for 15 years, you will have good connections in the organisation. Speak to your seniors keeping your manager in the loop.

I am sure a solution will come out and your manager will need your expertise for the team's success.