This is a rather long post, but in need feedback!
I just got news. No extension on my 1-year contract.
Reasons cited;
1. Your job card expired.
2. Team conflict.
3. People cite not to understand you.
It was no surprise. I saw it coming. My Disc profile is High "S, my colleagues are High D & S's.
Somethings incomprehensible;
1. Job card expired.
2. Open talk to manager.
3. Team conflict.
4. People cite not to understand you.
1. Job card expired.
Unexplainable situation. How come a direct’ contract who is often sick be extended but mine isn't?
My manager says to be satisfied with my work quality.
A direct colleague, much more project experienced High S, that started 3 months before me in the exact same job, sitting next to me got an extension. He is often sick (<>5 times this year, more than 4 weeks in total absence), he is often late, he leaves early, he tries to "socialize friends" up with management. WHY is is contract extended?
2. Open talk to manager.
During 1-on-1's I asked for communicating coaching, on how to resolve conflicts, asked feedback and WHEN i do something wrong tell me so I can improve!
3. Team conflict.
The team consists of 4 members, and management admitted that 3 of them isolate me.
One of the High D’s (with >4yrs experience here) demand i do things straight away as if he would do it himself. A few times i reacted too slow (took a day or 2 ) and he ran to Management -- even threatened to contact the CEO!!
Needles to say I addressed it with my manager, and to the High D himself. During talks with HighD it has no emotional inclination, not giving concessions of one millimeter, adhering to his principles. I informed manager about the talks. He didnt mediate.
My manager says he doesn't see it as his duty to form a close-knit team.
In some 1-on-1s I cited the conflict, offered suggestions (team bbq/drink after work) and followed feedback from my manager (less email, more personal talk). Team socially small talk is non-existent, except for obligatory lunch, talk-to-fill-air, often even periods of silence!
From my side i did tried everyting to "fit" in!
4. People cite not to understand you.
The office verbal & written language is non-English. This is my THIRD language!! As expat immigrant I graduated from a government approved language course. I read novels, newspapers in the language, and still dont know all the words, humor, and expressions. My manager is an expat too, still learning the language at special 1-on-1 classes.
I asked him since day 1 to give me feedback on language/communications barrier, but.. this is a BOMB!
Later today i have another 1-on-1;
1. How can I adress my concerns?
* Unfairly treated, did my best to fit in, worked on deliveiring quality, worked on communicative.
2. Any experiences from managers on this forum..?
I feel incorrectly treated. I whish to remain in the company, if possible employed elsewhere internationally. How can I best adress my concerns with my manager?
This may be hard to 'hear'
I hope I don't come off as sounding harsh. Typically I would give this type of feedback in person, to appropriately judge how the message is received.
Your post is difficult to understand, and making it long doesn't really help. If you were my direct I would start by asking you to read Barbara Minto's book "The Pyramid Principle." Articulating a point clearly is essential to success. Ms. Minto's book would be a good place to get an understanding of the approach and mechanics that lead to crisp, persuasive communication.
--Michael
Another post a little in the
Another post a little in the past it seems, but I wanted to answer.
Bottom line up front: I'll address your points below, but realize this. You cannot argue your job back. And you don't want to. Imagine a 'best case scenario' here. Say you somehow had the ability to force this manager to keep you on. You are now being managed by an enemy. Not good. Actually kind of terrifying. And you are very unlikely to stay with the company in another location unless you get that first step of the manager now keeping you on taken care of. You can leave and possibly get hired on at the other location, but staying uninterrupted isn't going to happen.
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Job card expired:
They're telling you that to let you know that's what chose their timing, not what made their decision. Contract ended and we've chosen not to renew it. It's not to explain why.
One other thing to address, the often sick coworker - Someone being sick is no reason to discriminate against them. I don't know your location, but in my country it's illegal to discriminate on medical grounds. The implication in what you say is that they're either doing something wrong by being sick (nobody can help that, and you're being unfair if that's what you think) or that you think they were faking it (I'd be willing to bet you don't have the evidence to say that, and even if you did it will not help your situation here).
Let this part go fast, it can only hurt you. Any time you try to compare yourself to others you will look unprofessional. This is you tearing down the team. By pointing out the sick colleague you do nothing but validate their decision. Job loss is one of those times I don't assume a pattern because it can be emotionally jarring, but you should know that if you did this while you worked there it probably lead to a lot of your problems. It makes enemies.
Open talk to manager:
I'm not sure what you mean when you say open talk to manager... but I'm guessing you mean this is that you asked for help and got no guidance (or little) up until dismissal. Did I read it right?
Team conflict:
You brought up in your O3s that there were problems and suggestions to address them. It's good to have thought in that direction. And you changed your behaviors somewhat to address it by using email less. But whatever was going on seems like it was bigger than just having weak relationships. It's not often (actually it's never) that I've heard threats of going to the CEO. For someone to get that mad something, or more likely many somethings, had to happen. That doesn't mean you meant to make him mad or even that you did anything wrong, but something bigger than that was in play.
Can you identify what events occurred that got him angry and just put the facts out there? Example: "He asked me to finish a report on Wednesday. I didn't commit to doing it, I told him I wouldn't be able to finish in time because of my other responsibilities." Was he your peer or a lead/boss who could assign your tasks and had role power?
Communication:
"4. People cite not to understand you.
The office verbal & written language is non-English. This is my THIRD language!! As expat immigrant I graduated from a government approved language course. I read novels, newspapers in the language, and still dont know all the words, humor, and expressions. My manager is an expat too, still learning the language at special 1-on-1 classes.
I asked him since day 1 to give me feedback on language/communications barrier, but.. this is a BOMB!"
I can't comment on how you speak the language in question. But I can say your English is difficult to understand. The truth is, fair or not, communication is huge. And your employer isn't necessarily going to provide you with the resources you need to work in a new country and communicate effectively. It's also a huge task, learning another language, so I don't think anyone would ever say you did something immoral or wrong for not being farther along in the process. I only know English myself.
But it is a necessary thing in a work environment. And if you couldn't be understood, didn't understand others well (remember, you might think you did and be wrong), and it interfered with your ability to be effective in the role then you should realize something. It will be very easy for them to find someone who is more effective. Doesn't mean they're better than you, doesn't mean they're even as good as you, at least as far as doing work goes. But if they have the communication piece they don't have to be as skilled or knowledgable to get more done. So it can sting, but it may be a very easy business decision for them.
If they didn't tell you and give you the chance to work on it, they should have. It sounds like you've been working on it anyway though and it wouldn't have helped much if they did. All you can do is keep working on it so it's less of an issue next time. It's a depressing thing to deal with, but it's reality. You'll have a better chance if you embrace that reality.