My chief executive has just been fired. He was my mentor and under him I have been rapidly promoted. The new guy is political and has his favourites. I've had a some run-ins with him in the past and he neither likes me nor rates me. I don't want to leave; I like the work and money and the culture. How do I convince him I'm worth keeping? Doing great work won't achieve that - I've done that before and he's never noticed. I don't think being smarmy is going to work either. Any ideas?
Manager, male, 37
LUCY'S ANSWER
Things are looking irredeemably grim for you. Your new boss will be choosing his new team even as I write this, and chances are you won't be on it. He neither likes nor rates you and there's little you can do to change that. Don't even think of going to see him and telling him how great you are. He'd still think you hopeless, but would put you down as a pain and a bragger too.
Your best hope is that for some political reason he finds getting rid of you is more problematic than keeping you. If so, you'll have more time to work on him. You are right that working hard is unlikely to impress him: in my experience good work always goes undetected by a boss intent on seeing your flaws.
Smarmy might work better, though it is difficult to bring off. It only succeeds when done in precisely the way that individual likes best. It sounds as if you are the last person to be able to get this right with him.
You say he doesn't rate or like you, but do you rate or like him? I get the strong impression you don't. This means that setting out to please him may turn your stomach - and make you wonder if the effort is worth it.
So even if you survive the first cut, you are not going to do well or be happy for as long as he stays chief executive. Maybe you reason that he'll be fired soon and that you can hang on until then. If that's your strategy, next time you must obey the fundamental law of political organisations: one mentor is not enough.
All this is probably hypothetical, as I daresay you'll be out on your ear soon. So start looking for another job today, but don't do anything hasty. It would be a mistake to jump before you are pushed. The great thing about being pushed is that you tend to get paid handsomely for the privilege.
YOUR ADVICE
Talking cure
Confront him. Explain your concerns and tell him that you think you are doing great work but feel he doesn't think you are; is this the case? If he says yes, how can you address it? You should also keep in contact with your old chief executive. He may resurface and want to do the age-old cop-out of surrounding himself with sycophants.
Director, male, 58
Waiting game
You are fortunate to have a well-paying job that you enjoy. Perhaps it would be best if you just stay put, get on with your work and see what happens.
Analyst, female, 46
Been there
I have had a similar problem three times running, while working for that ultimate example of internal politics and the power of patronage - a French bank. My first solution was to follow my mentor to his new position. The second time, when my boss again moved, I negotiated an early change of employment. Finally, I endured the third, new and unsupportive chief executive for several months until successfully negotiating a decent cheque to go home.
Ex-banker, male, 53
You're doomed
The situation has happened to me twice and both times I did not fare well. The first time I was made "redundant" - my new boss's assistant got my job. The second time I ended up as the "quality, safety and environmental manager" - a non-job if ever there was one.
Manager, male, 49
Browned off
Exactly which member of the Cabinet is it who is asking?
Coach, male, 54
I am a female director in a small creative agency. Over the years I've had a succession of PAs who were either thick or unreliable, but finally I have a good one. However, there is one thing wrong with him. Whenever I say anything even slightly critical he cries. Mostly he doesn't start blubbing, but his eyes fill with tears and he looks flustered.
At first I found this embarrassing but increasingly I find it enraging. He may not mean to be manipulative, but I feel manipulated - I can't raise the matter with him as I'd get the full waterworks. The situation is further complicated by the fact that he is gay. I feel that by confronting the tears I would be branded as homophobic. I think I already (unfairly) have a reputation of being tough bitch and don't want to make it worse.
Lucy Kellaway answers more problems at www.ft.com/dearlucy. Please send answers and new problems to problems@ft.com
This column appears fortnightly.
Please send answers and new problems to problems@ft.com
