Some Hazards of Skip-Level Interviews: III

As we've seen, skip-level interviews present risks to supervisors who initiate them. But there are also risks for subordinates who initiate skip-level interviews, however informal or spontaneous they might be. Because subordinates who initiate skip-level interviews almost always seek redress of grievances against their supervisors, this type will be our focus. As in the earlier installments of this exploration, we'll use the name Frodo for the subordinate, Bilbo for the subordinate's supervisor, and Gandalf for Bilbo's supervisor.

Retribution

When Frodo initiates a dialog with Gandalf, Bilbo might become worried. The less Bilbo knows about the topics of the dialog, the more worried he is likely to become. If the dialog is conducted in private, and especially if its existence is hidden, Bilbo is more likely to feel that his performance is the topic and that Frodo is attacking him.

These risks are elevated when there is ongoing difficulty between Bilbo and Frodo. And such situations are exactly those in which Frodo is most likely to turn to Gandalf for assistance. Moreover, in times of difficulty between Bilbo and Frodo, Bilbo is likely to be most alert to contact between Frodo and Gandalf.

Even if Bilbo has no definite knowledge of the content of the Frodo-Gandalf dialog, he might assume the worst, and seek retribution for Frodo's supposed offense. Retribution is even more likely if Gandalf subsequently takes any action that leads Bilbo to believe that it resulted from the Frodo-Gandalf dialog. Frodo would be wise to seek an interview with Gandalf only if he believes that Gandalf will act responsibly, with discretion, and with appropriate care for Frodo.

Peer concerns

When Frodo's peers learn that Frodo and Gandalf are meeting (or have met), they might also become worried. Like Bilbo, their level of concern is inversely correlated with their level of knowledge of the content and existence of the dialog.

For example, Even if the supervisor has no
definite knowledge of the content of
the dialog between the subordinate
and the supervisor's supervisor, he
or she might assume the worst,
and seek retributionif one of Frodo's peers is a favorite of Bilbo, he or she might worry that Frodo is complaining to Gandalf about favoritism, and that Gandalf's response might end the favoritism. This worry might lead to difficulty between Frodo and his peer.

Frodo's peers also present security risks with regard to the interview with Gandalf. If Frodo has been open about his desire to meet with Gandalf, and open about the appointment itself, then his peers might transfer this information to Bilbo, wittingly or not. If Bilbo's performance is indeed the topic of the meeting, Frodo would be wise to be discrete about the meeting, even with respect to his peers.

The most important risks for Frodo involve Bilbo's response. Initiating a meeting with Gandalf can expose Frodo to these very real risks. Unless Frodo is relatively certain that Gandalf will take effective action that will help Frodo, the risks probably outweigh the benefits.   First issue in this series   Top    Next Issue

Is every other day a tense, anxious, angry misery as you watch people around you, who couldn't even think their way through a game of Jacks, win at workplace politics and steal the credit and glory for just about everyone's best work including yours? Read 303 Secrets of Workplace Politics, filled with tips and techniques for succeeding in workplace politics. More info

Your comments are welcome

About Point Lookout

Thank you for reading this article. I hope you enjoyed it and found it useful, and that you'll consider recommending it to a friend.

This article in its entirety was written by a human being. No machine intelligence was involved in any way.

Point Lookout is a free weekly email newsletter. Browse the archive of past issues. Subscribe for free.

Support Point Lookout by joining the Friends of Point Lookout, as an individual or as an organization.

Do you face a complex interpersonal situation? Send it in, anonymously if you like, and I'll give you my two cents.

Related articles

More articles on Devious Political Tactics:

The Perils of Novel Argument

When people use novel or sophisticated arguments to influence others, the people they're trying to influence are sometimes subject to cognitive biases triggered by the nature of the argument. This puts them at a disadvantage relative to the influencer. How does this happen?

Counterproductive Knowledge Work Behavior

With the emergence of knowledge-oriented workplaces, counterproductive work behavior is taking on new forms that are rare or inherently impossible in workplaces where knowledge plays a less central role. Here are some examples.

Narcissistic Behavior at Work: II

Narcissistic behavior at work threatens the enterprise. People who behave narcissistically systematically place their own interests and welfare ahead of anyone or anything else. In this Part II of the series we consider the narcissistic preoccupation with superiority fantasies.

Unrecognized Bullying: II

Much workplace bullying goes unrecognized because of cognitive biases that can cause targets, bystanders, perpetrators, and supervisors of perpetrators not to notice bullying. Confirmation bias is one such cognitive bias.

Layoff Warning Signs: I

One of the better career moves you can make is leaving your current position before your employer conducts layoffs. When you choose the time, you aren't under pressure and you make better decisions. Here are eight warning signs of coming layoffs.

See also Devious Political Tactics and Devious Political Tactics for more related articles.

Forthcoming issues of Point Lookout

Coming April 2: Mitigating the Trauma of Being Laid Off

Trauma is an emotional response to horrible events — accidents, crimes, disasters, physical abuse, emotional abuse, gross injustices — and layoffs. Layoff trauma is real. Employers know how to execute layoffs with compassion, but some act out of cruelty. Know how to defend yourself. Available here and by RSS on April 2.

And on April 9: Defining Workplace Bullying

When we set out to control the incidence of workplace bullying, problem number one is defining bullying behavior. We know much more about bullying in children than we do about adult bullying, and more about adult bullying than we know about workplace bullying. Available here and by RSS on April 9.

Coaching services

I offer email and telephone coaching at both corporate and individual rates. Contact Rick for details at rbrentSgXnAlNVWlhxNIJner@ChacAtZoEYrrmofzZnjPoCanyon.com or (650) 787-6475, or toll-free in the continental US at (866) 378-5470.

Get the ebook!

Past issues of Point Lookout are available in six ebooks:

• Get 2001-2 in Geese Don't Land on Twigs (PDF, )
• Get 2003-4 in Why Dogs Wag (PDF, )
• Get 2005-6 in Loopy Things We Do (PDF, )
• Get 2007-8 in Things We Believe That Maybe Aren't So True (PDF, )
• Get 2009-10 in The Questions Not Asked (PDF, )
• Get all of the first twelve years (2001-2012) in The Collected Issues of Point Lookout (PDF, )

Are you a writer, editor or publisher on deadline? Are you looking for an article that will get people talking and get compliments flying your way? You can have 500-1000 words in your inbox in one hour. License any article from this Web site. More info