10 Signs Of Being Sidelined At Work – How To Deal With It

Many of us have felt the signs of being sidelined at work at some point in our careers, and believe me, it’s the worst!

How does it feel to give your best and still not get recognition for it? It kills you from the inside.

Key Takeaways

• A clear sign you’re being sidelined is being assigned trivial tasks better suited for juniors.
• When you’re the last to know about a meeting or get an invitation, it’s a sign you might be sidelined.
• Being sidelined by your boss or coworkers upsets you and makes you less motivated. 
• When you are sidelined, negative emotions can easily take over and change your behavior.
• If your boss is sidelining you, ask your coworkers for feedback to understand your performance better. 
• Everyone deserves to work where they don’t have to apologize for being themselves.

10 Signs Of Being Sidelined At Work

First, ensure you aren’t just feeling sidelined but actually are.

Are you meeting deadlines and hitting targets? If you’re still overlooked despite your efforts, there may be hidden reasons.

We’ll discuss signs your boss is sidelining you and solutions to handle it. 

1. You Get The Scrap Work – Valuable Work Goes Somewhere Else:

A clear sign you’re being sidelined is being assigned trivial tasks better suited for juniors.

It means you’re doing small, easy tasks that someone new could handle.

Your career is stagnant because your boss doesn’t want you to move upward. 

2. You’re Clearly Getting Ignored By Everyone:

You’re left out, whether it’s a new project or an office party.

This clearly shows you’re being sidelined at work and excluded from key events.

Your coworkers might not do it intentionally. But it still leaves you feeling unimportant and low.

Feeling pushed aside and ignored makes you feel like you don’t matter to the workplace.

3. You’re The Last One To Join Meetings – Signs Of Being Sidelined At Work:

When you’re the last to know about a meeting or get an invitation, it’s a sign you are sidelined at work.

Your questions in meetings are ignored. They tell you to figure things out on your own. 

You know your boss is trying to push you against the wall, indicating that the main problem lies with them.

4. You Never Know What’s Going On At Work:

It’s okay to be unaware of things going around at your workplace when you’re new, but not as an old employee.

Your coworkers and boss don’t share important work details with you, thinking you’re unimportant.

So you’re often unaware of what’s happening around you. 

5. A Brief Nod When You Ask Something From Them:

When you ask your boss about an important project, he nods or smiles, leaving you unsure.

Even if you invite coworkers for coffee, they just nod, making you feel unimportant.

You feel like you’re bothering them, and they don’t want to deal with you.

6. There’s A Decline In Emails You Receive – Signs Of Being Sidelined At Work:

Your boss used to email every little detail of the project to guide you and celebrate your achievements.

But now, your boss rarely emails you, making you feel abandoned and sidelined at work.

It’s time to take an action.

7. They Turn Their Eyes Away – Body Language Says It All:

When you’re with your boss, and he’s supposed to guide you about work, he shifts his feet and eyes.

It’s easy to tell you’re being sidelined because their body language shows it clearly.

Your coworkers are acting strangely toward you, and you feel ignored like they don’t see you.

8. Your Days Go Silent – No One Communicates With You:

No one talks to you at work, so you feel unimportant and lonely because it seems like nobody remembers you’re there.

You’re working alone, and it makes you doubt your value. 

In times like these, it’s hard to stay productive and motivated.

9. No One Remembers To Give You Feedback:

Your boss and coworkers forget to give you feedback until you ask for it. 

When you remind them, they apologize for forgetting.

And without feedback, you can’t guess which areas you need to work on.

10. There’s No Sign Of Your Promotion – Signs Of Being Sidelined At Work:

People say that staying in one place is not good for your career.

But your boss keeps you stuck at one point and promotes others instead of you, even though you work hard.

Your boss gives you impossible tasks and puts off talking about promoting you when you ask.

What To Do If You’re Getting Sidelined – 5 Steps

Getting sidelined by your boss or coworkers upsets you and makes you less motivated. 

It can also hurt your feelings and make you doubt yourself. Here’s what to do if you think people at work ignore you.

1. Don’t Let Yourself Become Negative:

When sidelined, negative emotions can easily take over and change your behavior.

Remember that confidence is the key to winning this situation.

Stay positive by avoiding negativity, and continue working enthusiastically to complete your assignments.

2. Take Time For Self-Assessment:

Instead of complaining, take time to assess yourself. Look at how well you’ve been performing lately. 

If you’ve followed instructions and met your goals, the problem may not be with you.

3. Seek Feedback From Other Sources:

If your boss is sidelining you, ask your coworkers for feedback to understand your performance better. 

Their views can confirm where the problem lies and help you plan your next steps towards a solution.

4. Have A Direct Talk With The Boss:

The best way to solve this is by talking directly to your boss. 

Ask where you need to improve and why you feel sidelined. 

Stay confident and open-minded to their feedback.

5. Keep Your Mind Calm:

After talking to your boss and understanding the situation, stay patient. 

Avoid rushing into any decisions that could harm your future. 

Your boss might be having a tough time, so wait for things to improve before deciding your next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Do You Do When You Feel Sidelined At Work?

When you get sidelined at work, you must avoid the impulse to feel demotivated and keep your focus on the work. Give your best to the areas that are still in your control and document the events you get sidelined.

How Do You Know If You’re Undervalued At Work?

If there’s a lack of gratitude for your work and you get scrap assignments to work on, you’re undervalued at work. There’ll be a lack of support and negative comments coming your way, which are clearer signs.

How Do You Tell If Your Employer Is Trying To Get Rid Of You?

If your employer is trying to get rid of you, you won’t get difficult and challenging assignments to work on. You aren’t getting any support for professional growth, boss generally avoids you.

What Does It Mean To Sideline An Employee?

If you’re excluding an employee from good projects and make him feel undervalued, you’re sidelining him. Getting sidelined can result in demotivation and ultimately in employee turnover.

Conclusion

Everyone deserves to work where they don’t have to apologize for being themselves.

If you’re an introvert feeling sidelined, stand up for yourself before it’s too late.

Nobody is perfect, and you shouldn’t push yourself beyond your limits.

You deserve to work in a place that values your skills and provides growth opportunities.

Last Updated on 2 months by Usama Ali