Washington – In 2001, I was doing well at my job at Cisco Systems, leading a group that helped companies we’d acquired adjust to life at the networking giant.
But this was the beginning of an era of massive layoffs nationwnide, and my employer was no different: I knew my job might be in danger. Yet by summer 2002 I was in Singapore, having survived a rough period and feeling relieved and excited to have a new assignment and a job.
Two years later, I was out - an abrupt end to what I thought would be a lifetime relationship with my employer.
What happened? I got talked into a bad assignment. With jobs at a premium, a colleague dazzled me with talk about how an international role would “round out” my résumé. The person also planted the relocation idea with my manager and urged others to sell me on the opportunity. It seemed like a great idea, but in retrospect, it was clear I hadn’t considered all the angles.
Years later, I discovered that my helpful colleague had viewed me as a threat and wanted me out of the way.
Soon after settling into my new job, headquarters seemed to challenge most of my decisions. I wasn’t aware I had my own personal saboteur back in the US who was busy planting seeds of doubt about my effectiveness.
My career survived despite the setback. I write this not to foment paranoia, but to point out that your colleagues may have an agenda that conflicts with yours. At the same time, even the strongest relationships in one location can erode quickly when you’re several time zones away. Here are a few simple strategies to consider should you find yourself in a similar situation:
Question the source
Before making any major career moves based on someone’s advice, don’t assume you know their motives, nor that they have your best interests in mind. Weigh different opinions carefully, especially if they’re coming from someone who may benefit from your decision.
Expand your bench
When gathering information to make a decision on something as major as a relocation or new job, get advice from a variety of reliable sources. Mostly, determine whether the job fits your career path. Talk to your manager, human resources - essentially anyone with valuable perspective. Think about where you want your career to be two or three jobs after this one. Will the new position get you there?
Phone home
If you’re going to be far from headquarters, it’s critical that you figure out a way to set up frequent contact. That way you can smooth out any misunderstandings or misperceptions. If you can’t visit the home office, invite your manager to visit. If that’s not an alternative, use conference calls or Skype to stay at the front of your colleagues’ minds.
The best advice for anyone is to work hard to anticipate potential pitfalls so you can head them off. Most important, create a plan that helps you make a decision based on sound reasoning and facts, not just random people who whisper, “Hey, it’s a great career move.”
Washington Post-Bloomberg