- A former program manager was assigned to a performance improvement plan (PIP) at a large technology company.
- It was an unexpected wake-up call, but they had already experienced friction with their new manager.
- They thought PIP was a terrible thing and accepted the challenge, but left of their own volition a few months later.
This told essay is based on a conversation with a 36-year-old former program manager turned entrepreneur living in San Francisco. The source’s name and employment history are known to Business Insider, but are being withheld to protect their privacy.
I worked at widely known famous I spent three years in two different roles at a tech company in San Francisco. First in the human resources department, then as a program manager for a team of five people.
Two years into my second role, I entered a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).
It was an eye-opener and very unexpected, but it became a turning point in my career.
work at top tier tech companies were great
Working at that company wasn’t always what I envisioned myself doing, but my role was purpose-driven, serving as a catalyst for diversity and inclusion, and opening doors to technology for communities of color. I felt it aligned with my goal of opening an.
The company has a very direct, results-oriented culture, where there are no excuses and where excellence is the standard. This, combined with flawless execution on such a scale, creates a unique atmosphere that I was drawn to and honored to be part of the team.
Saw warning signs before being placed on PIP
After returning from a meeting, I was told that senior leadership was not happy with my behavior.I felt out of place at the event while others were bonding, and that difficult To disguise your feelings. No one shared any feedback with me at the conference, but I knew I wasn’t there mentally.
At the time, the company’s work culture wasn’t the best, and team morale was lower than it had been the previous month. I felt disconnected from my work and my team’s mission.
The HR leader advised me to prepare a resume, which I interpreted to mean I could be fired. Instead, in a meeting shortly thereafter, my manager informed me that I was participating in a performance improvement plan, and that all future work, including weekly action items, meetings, and interactions, would be linked to the next big task in the weekly report. I asked for it to be documented. conference project.
Fear and shame were my first reactions. It was easy to take responsibility for my mistakes. The hard part wasn’t dwelling on my disappointments or blaming myself for them.
After the shock wore off, I did an honest assessment of myself. I decided to focus on what I can control and use this as an opportunity to improve my communication, focus, and work style.
I tried to see PIP as an opportunity.
I work with a career coach to assess my work habits and uncover blind spots that limit my productivity, especially to overcome procrastination and understand my communication style. We started cooperating.
We planned around SMART goals, set healthy boundaries, practiced conflict management, and discussed ways to improve task management.
I documented my progress and tracked my wins as described in PIP. I find it helpful to journal as much as possible each day and write down things I’m proud of to strengthen my confidence and self-esteem.
I also prioritized networking and building relationships. I volunteered on projects, sat on committees, and met with colleagues from different departments and from different companies. I talked about my girlfriend’s PIP to some of my close colleagues and a few seniors I trust.
My PIP was a much-needed kick and I came out on top.
I’ve been using PIP for about 2 months. I treated it like a challenge I was determined to overcome, but the anxiety caused me to lose a lot of weight. It was a mentally, emotionally and physically demanding experience. My partner at the time noticed this and was concerned about my health.
In the end, I wasn’t fired. After completing the project, the manager gave me positive feedback.
While I accept responsibility, I believe a major factor in putting me on PIP in the first place was miscommunication and poor coordination with a new manager who started working for me less than two years ago.
I struggled to adapt to the department’s reorganization and felt I didn’t have enough support. I really missed my old manager. He was a great leader and someone I trusted.
It was difficult to overcome friction with the new manager
My new manager and I had different work styles, which sometimes caused friction. The new manager’s deadline was tough for me and I missed some things in the early stages of them joining the team, which didn’t give me the right impression.
At this point, the team was pretty lean and there was a lot of internal organization that needed stakeholder management. My manager asked me to take on an additional workload on top of other projects, but I didn’t feel equipped to do this effectively. My scope expanded rapidly and it felt like overnight my performance was tightly tied to a new set of important metrics.
I learned that things like this can happen when a new leader takes over and gives a new vibe to the team. I wasn’t prepared for the sudden change of pace.
To cope, I started putting more effort into my side hustle, which fueled my creativity but sometimes affected my work performance. As I put more effort into my side hustle while enduring an unstable work culture, I felt less motivated to put in more effort at work.
Looking back, I understand and appreciate the new manager’s changes, even though they were unpleasant at the time. Our post-PIP energy was pleasant, but the situation left me feeling confused and more alert than I wanted to feel when reporting to someone.
My PIP experience was ultimately disappointing
Being placed in PIP solidified the reality that employees are disposable. About two months after my PIP ended, I voluntarily left the company. PIP wasn’t the only reason, but it accelerated my thinking.
I started a new job as a program manager at another company. My boyfriend’s PIP was not brought up in the interview, and even the references I listed were not considered.
PIP has taught me the importance of prioritizing mental health and personal development
After getting over the initial trauma of PIP, I learned to face the areas of my life that needed improvement so that I could perform at the highest level possible. It wasn’t a fun experience, but it gave me a clear roadmap for improvement and lessons I can share with others.
My PIP experience highlighted the vulnerability of relying solely on salaried employment and solidified the importance of having multiple sources of income. I continued with my side hustle and eventually it became my current full-time business.
Now, I overcome conflicts with persistence and a more positive mindset. Instead of dwelling on the negatives when things go wrong, focus on the skills you can develop to deliver better results.
