3 Red Flags You're Being Set Up To Fail & 5 Ways to Fight Back
- Yas Ahmad
- Aug 21
- 4 min read
Red 🚩 1. Moving the goalposts
Why: Shifting expectations make success impossible — no matter how much you deliver, the bar keeps moving.
Example: You submit a report that meets all agreed points, then your manager suddenly says:
“Actually, I expected an entirely different analysis.”
How to handle: Send a recap after meetings:
“Just to confirm, you’d like the Q3 analysis covering revenue by product line, delivered Friday?”
This creates a timestamped benchmark they can’t deny.
Red 🚩 2. Withholding information
Why: Missing critical details makes you look unprepared. This is classic sabotage-by-silence.
Example: You walk into a client call and discover half the agenda items were only sent to your coworker.
How to handle: Call it out neutrally, send a email or IM message:
“I’ll need access to the client deck by Tuesday to deliver what you’re expecting.”
If it arrives late, you have proof it wasn’t on you.
Red 🚩 3. Unrealistic deadlines
Why: Impossible timelines set you up to fail and then blame follows. Research shows accuracy drops 40% under extreme time pressure.
Example: You’re asked at 4 PM to build a full strategy deck “by tomorrow morning.”
How to handle: Push back with accountability language:
“I can have an outline by tomorrow, but a full strategy requires three days. Which version do you want me to prioritize?”
This forces them to own the compromise.
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🛡 5 Ways to Fight Back
1. Clarify goals in writing
Why it matters: Ambiguity is the #1 weapon toxic managers use. If nothing is written down, they can shift expectations later and blame you. Written clarity = insurance.
Better phrase:
“To make sure I’m fully aligned, here’s what I captured from our meeting…”
Example: Send a bullet-point follow-up email within an hour of the meeting:
Deliverable A by [date]
Deliverable B by [date]
Dependencies flagged
Now the “goalposts” are locked in black and white. If they later move them, you have the receipts.
2. Lock down priorities
Why it matters: Toxic managers love to give 10 “top priorities.” Then when you miss one, they pounce. Forcing prioritization protects you.
Better phrase:
“To deliver at the highest standard, can you confirm which is most urgent A or B and the exact deadline?”
Example: If they later claim you “dropped the ball,” you can point back to their written choice. It shifts accountability back to them and proves you worked in line with their own stated priorities.
3. Share progress updates publicly
Why it matters: Visibility is protection. If your updates are buried in private chats, it’s your word against theirs. Public updates create witnesses.
Better phrase:
“Quick update for the team: Project X is on track, awaiting input from Y before the next step.”
Example: Post this in Slack, Teams, or email to the wider group. Now bottlenecks are visible, responsibility is distributed, and the blame can’t be pinned on you later.
4. Document gaps
Why it matters: Toxic managers excel at selective memory, they forget that they were the blocker. Documentation makes the truth undeniable.
Better phrase:
“We’re still missing [data/report]. Once I receive it, I can finalize by [date].”
Example: This reframes the narrative from “you dropped the ball” to “you flagged the gap early.” You’re professional, proactive, and on record.
5. Set boundaries early
Why it matters: If you don’t frame what you need up front, unrealistic expectations will bury you. Boundaries = professionalism, not rebellion.
Better phrase:
“I want to deliver exactly what you expect. To make that possible, here’s what I’ll need: [time/resources/clarity].”
Example: This positions you as committed to excellence, while subtly exposing when expectations are impossible. If they push back, you’ve made the imbalance visible to anyone else copied on the thread.
These aren’t just communication hacks they’re defensive architecture. When the blame game starts, the person with the clearest paper trail wins.
Thanks for reading.
Yasar
For my Latest ebooks with complete breakdowns, even more in depth details, exact scripts that all my clients use and more check the links below!
The Ultimate Toxic Workplace Bundle gives you everything you need to survive, push back, and win at work — without losing your sanity.
📘 The Toxic Workplace Ebook – Your survival guide for handling manipulative bosses, office politics, and toxic colleagues. Learn the power moves they’ll never teach you.
📝 558+ Workplace Scripts – Word-for-word responses for every scenario: shutting down disrespect, setting boundaries, asking for raises, and navigating tough conversations in person or over email.
📄 Proven CV Template – The exact CV that landed me my Global VP role — ready for you to use to land your next big move.
Offer: 80% OFF for a limited time only! WAS $266 (£199.98) → NOW just $46.85 (£34.99)