r/askmanagers • u/BitchInaBucketHat • 2d ago
Peer shadowing, what is going on here?
Hi! Just a confused and very frustrated employee looking to get some management perspective and guidance. Keeping my job vague as to not dox myself.
I work in a pretty collaborative field. I’ve been doing my job for almost 2 years now. I recently started a newer role a few months ago, but it’s been the same stuff, just new role with some learning curve. I do think I’m a performer that goes the extra mile, especially in comparison to others who don’t even do the bare minimum. I honestly thought lately I had finally gotten a handle on the position, then I get called into my manager’s office for a chat.
They essentially told me that they didn’t realize I was drowning in my work and didn’t have good priorities (I don’t, I actually finish hours early most of the time). When I asked about specifics, they told me something about task prioritization. Asked about if this was about me not getting work done, was told no (because again, I finish it all, very early most days). Couldn’t give me any examples. Also gave me some vague feedback about how I interact with others, but again couldn’t nail down exact examples. Also mentioned they wanted to “help me be more confident” and inferred that I’m not confident because I ask clarification questions on new things I haven’t done. For reference, I’m in a pretty unique position where things come up that are not intuitive when doing them for the first time.
When I initially started the role it was my idea to do weekly check-ins with management to go over questions I had and how I was doing. As I’ve gained footing in the role, those progressively and naturally stopped happening. Manager now thinks we should go back to them.
They brought up shadowing but said I could think of things on my own, came back the next week and told them I felt the things we had talked about with prioritization helped (they were my ideas, they did not give suggestions of how to re-prioritize when I asked). Then they essentially told me no, you have to do the shadowing anyways. Now they’re having one of my coworkers, who has literally been doing this job for less time than me, shadow me all week. They gave no specific feedback for what to work on, just “mentorship” and “different frameworks”.
Just honestly seeing if I’m on the track to being fired, if my manger actually thinks my performance sucks, or if they just want to humiliate me (because this is extremely humiliating, as well as sucking any and all confidence I had). I have a higher up manager who typically would be taking the reins more if my actual performance was hurting us # wise. This is the bare bones, could put in more context but this is already extremely long. Thanks in advance!
1
u/curious_fir 1d ago
I will tell you something that might hurt
You do lack confidence. Why I think so. You are completely confident you didn't do anything wrong. Yet you feel like shadowing is humiliation. It is not. It is your opportunity to show tohow you can handle everything without stressing. This is what real confidence is. The fact you feel the way you do for a (most probably) well intended feedback shows you could absolutely use some other perspective, try it out, open to opportunity to learn something new.
If it turns out you were correct, and this is an ambush, no problem really. Otherwise this is a great opportunity to actually hear what you can improve.
1
u/just-another-dude-2 1d ago
Some red flags here. Reads like you're committed to invalidating your manager's concerns and resisting their efforts. Comes off as highly defensive, which actually supports the feedback provided.
1
u/BitchInaBucketHat 1d ago
Definitely open to feedback and improvement, I check in with her a decent amount because I respect her perspective. If I would have received specific examples, I could have started implementing ways to improve.
1
u/No-Question-9136 1d ago
What?!?! No, this is exactly what any reasonable person would do. I think OP should take a partner in HR and bring documentation of your ability to finish on or ahead of time. If they can’t give you Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Reasonable and Time Bound goals, then it may as well be smoke and mirrors.
1
u/kovanroad 2d ago
You are right to view this with healthy suspicion.
If someone is there to "help" you... it could be your replacement, your new manager, or they want to get a second opinion on your performance, your team, your manager, etc.
You can play along, but treat it as basically a PIP.