Harvey Mackay summarizes the smoke signals that you should look for if your company intends to manage you out of your job. Having been laid-off in a previous recession, I know all the business signals: sales becoming stagnant, cutting costs becomes a priority, and executives start becoming secretive. While I wasn’t “fired,” having my “position eliminated” felt like I was being fired in a nice way.
Today’s recession will force companies and managers to assess their workers. This list may help you read the smoke signals.
Harvey MacKay’s 25 Reliable Signs that…The Curtain may be Coming Down on Your Job
For anyone who feels “something” different in their environment, here’s Harvey’s list of 25 reliable signs that management or leadership levels may send you:
- You’re no longer invited to meetings you were always invited to.
- One of your subordinates is now being invited to attend meetings that he/she was never invited to before…and you didn’t do the inviting.
- Your boss is seen having lunch or dinner at a restaurant with a manager from a competitor who is about on your career level.
- You’re relocated to a new office space, which is more distant from the power base of your department.
- You’re asked to accept a transfer to a remote area, where the prospect of achieving anything for the company is limited.
- Your operational duties are cut back and you’re given assignments that are less urgent or “more strategic” in nature.
- Your reporting relationship is changed to a more junior manager.
- Your reporting relationship is changed to a manager with a reputation for taking tough actions–especially difficult personnel decisions.
- Your boss reduces the frequency or length of regular meetings with you.
- Your regular performance review is postponed…or suddenly rescheduled and made urgent.
- When you have one-on-one meetings with your boss, your statements–particularly ones that are controversial or emotional–are repeated back to you, as if your boss wants to note something for the record.
- Your boss has a sudden interest in tracking the timing-and-action calendar for projects you have been given–so that your performance can be clearly documented.
- Your boss sends you carefully worded written communications about performance shortfalls, when the same message would usually have been given to you orally.
- Your boss steps in and makes difficult decisions on your behalf, especially ones that you have been postponing for some time.
- For lunch or for after-hours socialization, your circle of peers in other departments suddenly and unexpectedly shrinks.
- A committee is formed to restructure your department, and you are not a member of it.
- Your visibility with the press or as a spokesperson to industry groups is cut back.
- Your prominence in photos in the internal house organ or other company publications is reduced.
- Your boss has a sudden, unexplained interest in the names and numbers in your Rolodex or computer.
- Someone in the human resources department meets with you to “tidy up” your personnel records.
- You lose your status as a mentor or trainer for new managers coming into your department.
- Your income is frozen with the argument that you have reached the peak in your compensation range.
- You’re no longer copied on important emails, memos, and reports–especially those that could be significant to competitors.
- You’re no longer recommended to attend personal training and development programs, especially those outside the company.
- Your boss suddenly wants to meet with you away from the office for a chance to have a leisurely discussion.
While all 25 of these signals may not apply to your situation, keep them as a reference for the future. And may you never have to see these smoke signals!
Recommended Books by Harvey Mackay
- We Got Fired!:…And It’s the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us
- Pushing the Envelope: All the Way to the Top
- Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty: The Only Networking Book You’ll Ever Need
- Sharkproof: Get the Job You Want, Keep the Job You Love…in Today’s Frenzied Job Market
- Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive: Outsell, Outmanage, and Outnegotiate Your Competition
- Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt: Do What You Love, Love What You Do, and Deliver More than You Promise
