Sometimes feedback isn’t given with the intention of helping you improve your performance.

There are times when it is given to sabotage your thinking. Or to get you to question your decisions so you make mistakes.

Or if you find yourself thinking, “That didn’t happen that way.” It may be gaslighting.

Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse in which a person or group causes someone to question their own sanity, memories, or perception of reality.

I remember having a performance review once and my boss said I didn’t meet their expectations in a certain area. Earlier that year, I received kudos for having exceeded their expectations in that same area.

What changed? They decided they wanted to make my life at work miserable so I would quit.

There had been a shift and I stopped being invited to meetings I should have been in.

I wasn’t asked for my opinion anymore. Decisions were made without my involvement and my team, and I was expected to execute them without question.

Eventually, I was laid off, but it wasn’t with an end date that was soon. It was six months later.

Talk about a miserable six months of existence in a toxic workplace.

I felt so free when I walked out on my last day.

If you’re experiencing something similar, you aren’t alone.

Some managers find it easier to make your life miserable instead of having an upfront conversation and saying that the employment relationship needs to end.

When is it time to go?

If your employer takes you for granted or doesn't respect you, it is probably time to go.

If you feel that they no longer value you, it is difficult to feel positive about staying.

Update your resume and revise your LinkedIn profile. Even small steps can make you feel better and make you look forward to the future.

We all deserve to feel valued, respected, and recognized for our contributions.

#performance
#feedback
#humanresources
#leadership