The slang term “on the bubble” is sometimes used in the workplace when an employee or team member is in danger of being disciplined or terminated. A similar adage is “they’re skating on thin ice.”
The saying seems to originate in sports, where an athlete might be “on the bubble” for a slightly different reason: will they be eliminated or will they qualify for the next round of competition.
If you are stressed about possibly being “on the bubble” with your job, it could be a good time for self-reflection and decision-making. Here are two questions to ask yourself which could be helpful:
- Is this job right for you? Not every job is the right fit for every person. Maybe there is another position either inside the same organization or another organization that would better fit your talents, skills, passion, and experience? If you think this is true, discuss it with someone you trust who knows you well. If you think a position that would fit you better might be inside your current organization, you can consider discussing it with your manager or with Human Resources.
- Are you doing everything you can to be a good team member? Are you dependable to your co-workers and your supervisor? They may be difficult to work with, but that doesn’t stop you from being your best self. In fact, self-leadership can go a long ways in influencing those around us. It is important to remember that we cannot control others, but we can always control our response to others.
Here are some additional resources you may find helpful:
- Each of the episodes of Brain Chatter Podcast is an interview with a leader discussing workplace issues. And each episode has take-aways and insights that can help all of us become better, based on the lessons learned by others. Start with Episode 10: The Power of Thankfulness
- Read the book “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Holocaust survivor Vicktor Frankle
- After each episode of Brain Chatter and after each chapter of the book, set aside some quiet time to really think through what you’ve learned and how you can apply it to your own life. Consider starting a journal to write out your thoughts and help you process those thoughts.
Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc. is a management consulting firm with over 40 years of experience working with workplace cultures on transformative leadership development.
