Hi, Been working for a US based software product company for last 15 years. practically grew from a junior developer to Product Architect. But since last couple of years CEO seems to have taken a keen interest in my role. He has practically overthrown all the decisions that I had taken and instilled a team of developers without consulting me. He is taking direct meetings with developers and giving instructions and guidelines to them. I am informed after the fact. Also ESOP promise has been another item where company has failed to deliver. My concern is after all these years, is company now getting ready to throw me out? I am fine with that as I have enough cushion and intellectual capital to have a soft landing. Should I wait or move out?

Ans:

Hi AD.

Let me start by stating two realities of a corporate job.

1. Mergers and acquisitions are a reality and consolidation of business will happen all the time.

2. No company can assure you for a permanent job.

In this situation, my advice to you will be to give your best in the current job and have an open discussion with your management.

Meanwhile, be open to external job opportunities

 

Ans: I’d definitely take this as an opportunity to explore new areas in the business and take on different responsibilities within the company, challenge myself to develop new skills and learning to grow. Also, I’d support the new person in best of my ability in his/her new role. It’s not a humiliation but God sent opportunity to develop myself.

Ans: Dear

I can feel your situation it's not easy.

Let me share my thoughts in two parts.

Part A

Work we all have to because it takes care of both emotional and financial well-being. Work keeps us busy, gives meaning to our life and provides us with standard of life and living.

Part B

When work becomes part of our identity, self image and self esteem that's when things start getting bad.

For almost all of us it starts with Part A and at some point Part B takes over.

Coming to your situation, may I suggest following.

1. Ask yourself what are the things that makes this job critical both from Part A and Part B point of view.

2. Financial aspect of job is very important don't discount that, however do an assessment of how much your salary is contributing to take care of your reasonable wants....kids education, rent, household expenses.

3. Issue with boss. Please address it from an open mind...areas where you are responsible and areas where he is responsible. Please understand boss is boss not our friend or gaurdian to take care of our emotional needs. Sit with him/her talk it out. At your age you have enough and more maturity to strike working relationship Please keep your ego aside and more importantly keep your needs aside. Try and look at things from boss' perspective

Lastly please don't take loss of job as rejection or personal failure. Talk to your spouse and family members and seek their strength to move ahead.

All the best. Believe in yourself and life, things will be fine soon.

Ans: Hi!!
I really really can empathise with you, having been in a similar situation a few years ago. Having a boss who is less educated than you is always very tough. They'll always consider you as a threat and hence this kind of behaviour towards you.

What I suggest to you is this ...check yourself and your attitude towards everyone in the office. Is your mannerism and demeanour that of superiority? Do you behave/appear like a threat? If "yes", then time to correct you body language and make efforts to show that you are a team player and become likable too.

Now that you are working with them and if you are still interested in working for this organisation and people, then these are my suggestions -
- first and foremost he is your boss, it is not simply that ppl say, "boss is always right"
- find out the reason for his prejudice, see if you can work on taking it away or on minimizing it
-you are the smart one here, find ways and means of befriending your team members, one at a time, showing your good side, help as many ppl as you can without any expectations. I have this belief that no human being is bad, just address their insecurities.
- never confront anyone in a group
- you are the junior, behave like one, don't be a sycophant, but be a team member
- you can always use words like 'can you pls guide me' etc, when you are addressing anyone who is older and more experienced than you
- don't bother about how others are working and what mistakes they are a making ,neither do you have control over them nor are you the one to decide the consequences of their mistakes. You be impeccable, give your 100%, be an asset to the company.
- when you make a mistake, say sorry, correct it and move on, without attaching anymore to it than the fact that you made a mistake and it needs to be corrected( this is essential for your peace of mind)
- your boss is here since 10 yrs, he has a good rapport with the directors, there must be something in him to learn and imbibe. Pls learn and imbibe, it'll be a great asset to you as you grow in your career
- be a team player, take it slow, it is always very tough to build rapport and gel with new teams, it takes time, thought, energy, efforts to become part of a group. Give yourself and others the time
- you have already reported it to the director, trust him help you out
- build harmonious relationships with everyone around
- protect yourself too, learn to speak up, stand up for the right issues but with due respect and the right language
Observe yourself and others, you'll surely find a way to connect and work in harmony. Try all the possible solutions I have suggested, give yourself 6 months to one year, if the situation improves with your good intention and efforts, stay in this job, else quit. No one should stay in a toxic work environment ever. But do try to make it work, you'll emerge stronger and smarter.

All the very best! Remember I am with you now!!