[Have Hope]

I feel slightly paranoid.

In our company meeting yesterday, I thought about bringing up a huge success I've had recently and since coming on. Then I got shy and humble and didn't want to pat my own back in front of all my colleagues, so I kept my mouth shut. But it's a sharing type of environment that encourages this.

Anyways, after the meeting, I approached the company owner or CEO and told him of my big success. Then it turns out my boss did not inform the CEO of this huge accomplishment? I was surprised. REALLY surprised, especially since this client has been a massive challenge since I came on.

Then I got paranoid that my boss doesn't really want it to be known. He had worked on this client account himself, and he hadn't had as much success, I don't think.

So I am feeling paranoid. Bosses in the past have all been threatened by me and have tried to undermine me. So I wondered if my current boss is kind of doing the same thing? It makes me wonder, for certain, because when I had my first big success with this same client, my boss didn't inform the CEO of that either.

So, apparently I have to fend for myself and let it be known. I don't like that.

I pick up on things, and I could be totally wrong, but this is what I am sensing... that maybe my boss is a little envious of my success? When we talked about it yesterday, he said "great job" and almost seemed despondent about it.

Oh, also, I should let it be known: we're only a 20-person company and my boss reports to the CEO. They meet and talk all the time about our client accounts, & how we're all doing on our accounts, etc.

[sarahsweets]

I do not know how to tell you how to congratulate yourself with your boss and coworkers. Its hard for me to do that too. I dont mean like you shouldnt feel good or share- I dont mean congratulate in a snarky way- I just wish it were easier for me too to highlight when I have worked hard at something. Do other coworkers do this? How do they share it? Is your boss the kind of person who gives positive feedback anyway? Do you have annual reviews where you self assess your progress at work?

[Have Hope]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

I do not know how to tell you how to congratulate yourself with your boss and coworkers. Its hard for me to do that too. I dont mean like you shouldnt feel good or share- I dont mean congratulate in a snarky way- I just wish it were easier for me too to highlight when I have worked hard at something. Do other coworkers do this? How do they share it? Is your boss the kind of person who gives positive feedback anyway? Do you have annual reviews where you self assess your progress at work?

Thanks!

I had a recruiter once tell me that we all need to do our own “grandstanding” at work, as she put it. Meaning, let the higher ups know of your successes. And yes, it’s encouraged to share any success stories in our company meetings. I just got very humble and shy about it.

My boss does give positive feedback. But at the same time, he did not inform the CEO of my first major success with this client. It just makes me a bit skeptical and wary, especially since he himself has worked on this client account trying to resolve their challenges without much luck.

Originally Posted by Have Hope

Thanks!

I had a recruiter once tell me that we all need to do our own “grandstanding” at work, as she put it. Meaning, let the higher ups know of your successes. And yes, it’s encouraged to share any success stories in our company meetings. I just got very humble and shy about it.

My boss does give positive feedback. But at the same time, he did not inform the CEO of my first major success with this client. It just makes me a bit skeptical and wary, especially since he himself has worked on this client account trying to resolve their challenges without much luck.

If your gut intuition gave you the feeling that your boss is envious of your entrepreneurial spirit with work projects, and your previous bosses reacted the same way, I think it's a sign from the universe that maybe you should open your own company. At least consider it.

Toxic work environments seem to exist everywhere these days. Envious bosses are a plague on an employee's well-being at work as they like to minimize their employees success and thwart their movement forward. Evidence: the movie Horrible Bosses. It may be a farcical comedy, but it's definitely based on the truth and how corporate america belittles the worker who has the wherewithal to be a great success at their workplace, b/c "they" put an asinine boss in between the employee and the employee's recognition and success, as a roadblock.

All I can offer for advice is, let it roll off your back. If you confront your boss, he/she will use your assertive behavior against you and distort it to set you up for sabotage and failure. It sucks, but I don't see a way around this situation.

[Have Hope]

Originally Posted by StreetcarBlanche

If your gut intuition gave you the feeling that your boss is envious of your entrepreneurial spirit with work projects, and your previous bosses reacted the same way, I think it's a sign from the universe that maybe you should open your own company. At least consider it.

Toxic work environments seem to exist everywhere these days. Envious bosses are a plague on an employee's well-being at work as they like to minimize their employees success and thwart their movement forward. Evidence: the movie Horrible Bosses. It may be a farcical comedy, but it's definitely based on the truth and how corporate america belittles the worker who has the wherewithal to be a great success at their workplace, b/c "they" put an asinine boss in between the employee and the employee's recognition and success, as a roadblock.

All I can offer for advice is, let it roll off your back. If you confront your boss, he/she will use your assertive behavior against you and distort it to set you up for sabotage and failure. It sucks, but I don't see a way around this situation.

Oh WOW, you really hit the nail on the head!!! Thank you so very much for your insightful and thoughtful post!!!

I agree with you fully!!! I have witnessed these facts of the US workplace for years upon years now. And yes, my gut is usually spot on!

I did try my hand at an entrepreneurial endeavor a couple times and it kind of flopped at the time. The first time? Major failure. But I learned a lot. The second time? More success then I hit major roadblocks and had to return to an office job. Maybe three times a charm? Hehehehe.

It may be something in the making. Maybe a few years from now or something. GREAT food for thought at least!!!

No, I won't confront my boss. Not ever. I will let it just roll but I am observing it and wary of it as I move forward. IF I must toot my own horn to keep myself employed, then I will!!!