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EXCLUSIVE: Here’s a new format for the podcast: Conflict @ Work Explainer Video
It’s not a conflict if the other person doesn’t know anything is wrong.
I’ve learned in my past, within the corporate world, that if you have a conflict with someone above you, 99.9% of the time it’s best to keep your mouth shut. If it’s your manager, that number goes to 99.999%.
I’ve hit a snag in my plans. I’m 90 days in. I was told “August” would be the time to chat about next steps, roles, advancement. Then a team member quit leaving open the desired position. I didn’t ask about it. Then over a week ago, I saw the listing on LinkedIn. I tried to apply. I was prevented from putting in a normal application because I already work there. Then… I searched but did not find the job on the STAFF job search portal. Nothing. I asked tech support about it, “Maybe it was just a mistake,” I said. The role was then posted on the internal site and I threw my hat into the ring. Bingo.
That was a week ago.
I asked my favorite manager about it. No clue. I asked the TL for our entire department about it, he said something about the listing being down for a bit, but that it was back up. He was confused. He’s not all that well informed.
Yesterday, at work, a parade of people were coming in for interviews for this very role. Hmm. Concerning. I should’ve heard from the TL by now. And when he said he didn’t know if the job posting was still up or not… Well, that seems fishy to me. What do you think? If people are coming in for interviews, and they are on his calendar for this role…
And why hasn’t he invited me to interview yet?
Last thread, I asked my favorite manager about the role and about the TL and his lack of response. What he said floored me and reinforced something I already knew. This was the same person who failed to tell me how to file my doctor’s note in the system.
“You want to know what I think?”
“Just a little guidance.”
“I haven’t spoken with him about you, but I can guess at what his major concern might be.”
“Do tell.”
Five… Four… Three… Two… One… “Your attendance.”
BOOM. All the time I think this “friend” is my friend, I learn he’s just doing his job. The same thing that he caused me to mess up is the reason I might not be considered for this role? Oh, that’s a bit messed up. Okay, I’m on my own.
Final note: I find corporate “rah rah” meetings to be like high school pep rallies, but yesterday there was a Coffee with Leadership meeting that I was excited about. Turns out I was the only one excited about it. Leadership forgot about it. I opened the conference room and waited. I finally flagged down an Assistant Store Leader and asked.
She said, “No meeting. I’ll let him know you want to have a chat.”
[Listen to the Deep Dive explore the concepts of The Happy Cashier.]
The hope I see in others
becomes the hope I have for myself,
my life, and my own journey.
– The Happy Cashier
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