I Went from PIP to Promotion in 6 Months… Here’s What It Cost Me
This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure.
Six months after being placed on a performance improvement plan, I earned a promotion and a significant raise. It looked like a comeback story. But once I stopped worrying about losing my job, I started worrying about ever disappointing anyone again.
In this episode of Perfection Hangover, I share what happened before that performance conversation, what I needed to take responsibility for, and how turning things around eventually led me to take on more than I could sustain.
I was navigating divorce, financial pressure, and a change at work that felt like a step backward. I let my resentment affect how I showed up. During a week away with my kids and partner, I had to admit that some of the feedback was fair and decide what I wanted to do about it.
I changed my approach, committed to my role, and earned new opportunities. But I also became increasingly attached to being the person who could handle the hardest problems. The workday followed me home, my workouts became less consistent, and I had little attention left for my family or Perfection Hangover.
This is a conversation about taking ownership of your performance while also being honest about what success is costing you.
In This Episode
- Receiving a performance improvement plan during an already difficult season.
- Recognizing how resentment was affecting my attitude and work.
- The changes I made before earning a promotion six months later.
- Becoming the go-to person for difficult clients and problems.
- Feeling needed while also being encouraged to set boundaries.
- Trading the fear of being fired for the fear of disappointing people.
- Being grateful for an opportunity without agreeing to carry everything.
One Thing to Try
Before accepting another project, promotion, or responsibility, ask the question I share in this episode:
“Is this success, or is this a hangover waiting to happen?”
Consider what the opportunity would require alongside your existing commitments. What would need to change for you to do the work well and still have time and energy for your life outside it?
Use that answer to begin a conversation about expectations and support before you commit.
Explore Your Own Perfectionism Patterns
If a setback leaves you feeling like you have to keep proving your worth long after your performance has improved, you may recognize The Prover in my free Perfection Hangover Archetype Guide.
The guide introduces six perfectionism patterns, the beliefs behind them, and their hidden costs. It can help you notice when doing good work has become a constant effort to earn someone else’s validation.
