Imagine this: your manager has been talking to you for months about a major project for which you would be the ideal person, or about a salary increase that’s “in the works”. You believe it, you’re fully invested, you put in extra time and effort… but still, nothing. You get just enough encouragement to keep you going, but it never seems to be enough to make it happen.
In this kind of case, you’re a victim of the workplace version of “breadcrumbing” – a practice that refers to the little “crumbs” thrown here and there to keep up someone’s hopes.
In the context of relationships, these are often small signs such as sporadic text messages or “likes” on social networks, sent to keep someone interested, without ever committing. In the world of work, breadcrumbing translates into vague promises, spurious progress and phantom projects. They lure you in with positive discourse but, in the end, you’re going round in circles.