Dear Ron,
My company is about to take on some major new initiatives and I want to be a part of them. However, my boss will do everything in his power to prevent me from getting any of these opportunities. He wants to keep me doing what I am doing for as long as he can, since it suits his purpose. I know he will, without a second thought, trash me to superiors. Is there anything I can do?
Don’t focus on your boss; his behavior is a given and you don’t want to let your anger or resentment prevent you from focusing on your goal and making the right impression on other people who can help you. Instead, identify the managers who have the most pull in making these changes at your company, and take every opportunity you can to make your case with them regarding not only how hard you’ll work if chosen, but what unique value you could bring to these new projects. Ask to share a sandwich or coffee or whatever with them and whoever’s got their ear.
But also be aware of the political situation at your firm and make sure you’re not lobbying people who may be supportive of your boss and tell him about your moves. And be careful of who you confide in at your own level, as they may also be interested in the same opportunities that you’re looking at and use the information you share with them against you.
I once had a client who didn’t have the support of her direct boss in a ranking session at her company that decided who at her level would be getting promoted. Essentially her boss wanted to keep her under him because she was so productive and skilled. But my client got several other influential people on the committee to advocate for her, so she was able to get a strong ranking and promotion despite fairly negative comments from her boss. Working around your boss in a situation like this is never easy but is likely something you’ll have to do at some point in your career. The key is fostering enough support at other levels in your company to counteract your boss’s opinion and make sure his is not the lone voice speaking about you.
