You Have Been Suspended As Of Today’s Date

You Have Been Suspended As Of Today’s Date

Imagine receiving an email from the board of directors or from your boss, telling you that you have been suspended and that the suspension is likely to take weeks before the investigation (investigation!?) has been completed.

This happened to a client of mine, who, by the way, returned to his post when the investigation found him innocent of any wrongdoing).

What if this happened to you? Out of the blue, you’ve been suspended, and you have absolutely no idea why.

Here are some of the learning lessons that my client wanted to share with anyone who might find themselves in a similar position one day:

1. Keep your head. It’s easy to imagine the most awful things no matter how much of a straight shooter you are.
2. Heighten your awareness regarding the behavior of your direct reports. Remember you are not just responsible for their performance; you are also accountable for their behavior. Be vigilant of your own practices, habits, how you communicate with others and any financial tracking as well.
3. Learn from the event. No matter how well you do your job, we can all fall into complacency. That could be about allowing member of your team to get away with sub-standard behavior with their teams, or not being watchful enough when checking a direct report’s expenses.
4. Decide if you want to return to your job. No matter the outcome, this is a good time to re-think whether the fit is still good.
5. Don’t go it alone. Speak with your partner or best friend (if they are not one and the same). If your partner is not good at handling this type of situation (not everyone is), find someone with whom you can confide and bend their ear. Getting support is vital.

What you can do already today

1. Separate your private life from company life. Separate phones, separate on-line shopping accounts, your own computer. This not only makes things easier when you leave the company, it also is one less reason to put up with a position you are not satisfied with. Perks not only attract you to a job, but they also turn into irrational deterrents from leaving one. This is something you should consider starting on today.
2. Always keep abreast of your financial position. Let’s face it, this can happen to anyone at any time. Being always aware of your current financial position not only alleviates panicky thoughts, but it also gives you leverage when you feel dissatisfied in your position. Knowing (as opposed to thinking) that you have the means to leave a job prevents you from staying in a dead-end position too long.

Here is a link to find out more about LeanMail and to register for our Free LeanMail introductory workshop.