I started and built all of the "agile recruiting" processes for a large company that has transformed it's focus to a tech company, with great success. Although I didn't have any real authority, because of my skill, I've been leading that team for the last 2 years, no one questions that. Recently, they decided to make my job as the team lead official. I was told privately that although we've had tremendous success and I've proven myself time and time again, one of the VPs making the decision doesn't think I'm confident enough and wants to look outside the company for someone else to do the job I basically created. I've also sacrificed at a much lower salary in the hopes that this would be the payoff for all of my hard work. Any advice on how to approach it? Also, if they do pass me over, is it time to leave? Other than this incident, I do love working there, but it feels like despite what they preach daily, they don't value respect and just used me.
Try to understand what you are missing from the VP perspective. Don't take it personally. It might be possible that you aren't the right person for the job. Especially if you can't have your VP's trust. If I were you I would have a really transparent discussion with my VP about all that. If it doesn't solve the issue I would ask for at least compensation increase so I stay motivated and get rewarded. If this doesn't happen I would quit. If he does reward you I will make sure to find someone good and coach him really well and become his best man
I hear what you're saying, but I'm finding hard to believe I'm not the right person for the job I've been excelling at for 2 years. Also, the VP will be part of the interview process and I'm fairly sure they're at least going to give me the opportunity to interview for it. Do you think it's bad protocol to have that conversation with him? Also let me note that this wouldn't be a huge step up for me and by not getting it, it closes off any real growth opportunity for me here. This job would be the next logical step for me and should have been a no brainer.
I'm a manager myself. One of my people think the same way as you do. And yes the job was well done. But I need someone more mature, for a lot of reasons including maybe just easing down my own fears. It is a trust game you are losing that game. It doesn't matter that you think you are the right person. The fact you don't realize how earning trust is important make me believe you are a young leader, it simply shows! And that might be one of the reason why he/she doesn't want you to have the job.
Maybe going 2 years without asking for a raise or the comp you deserve shows that you’re not confident enough. Never expect anything to “come to you” without asking for it. Most people aren’t paying attention
Normally I'd agree with this, but they look at employees who ask for raises as red flags. I've seen it be a problem for employees too many times. They want your work to speak for itself.
Leave, and let that speak for itself. They obviously don’t value what you’ve done enough to reward it, so let them find someone else to do it, while you move on to somewhere that fairly compensated employees.
Good feedback. Applies to so many people that are individual contributors and “superstars” of their organization.
Yes and no. This is simply another narrative. There are managers out there who make decisions based on how well they like an individual and try to “manage them out” as it’s called. Aka making them unhappy until they quit on their own. Ask yourself what situation you’re in, do some thinking on it, and apply the best solution to the problem whether it be having a heart to heart with your VP or going somewhere else that will value you.
Some info missing here, doesn't add up. Who told you "privately"? Won't it look weird for colleagues to have a new guy come in and take your job? Aren't they going to ask you how you feel about it, and what would your response be? Hasn't the VP/management thought of that? From the context, this seems like a small company. What kind of clout does this VP has? Friend of the owner? Do you interact with him regularly? Any previous situation that would explain his reticence? Are you really too nice and not able to have difficult conversations with employees, want to be friends with everyone? A manager is not a friend. Just too many open questions to devise what's going on.
I was told privately by the director of my department. Yes, it will look weird for someone new to come in and take my job. I think this conversation with the director was intended to ask me how I felt about it and my response was to object and go through everything I've done here to deserve this - she agreed but it had no bearing because she's not making the decision. I have to believe they have thought of this. This isn't a small company by any means - S&P 500 but not FAANMG. I do interact with him and all of the VPs every day and we've never had any interactions that i can point to that were problems. I don't feel like I'm too nice. They always talk about our culture and how treating people nice and with respect is a big part of that. Others who have not been nice have been pointed out as not being leaders because of their attitudes even though they are superstars. So I took the approach they encouraged. I completely embody the culture here which is what we hire for - culture fits.
All right. What I understand is that your director is hiring someone under her, whom you would report to, introducing a new layer of management for you. Although this position will report to her, and she's presumably(?) willing to hire you, she's being overridden. You also state you regularly interact with not only her boss (the VP), but also his/her peers. This is all a bit strange, and there are probably things your boss is not telling you. The reasoning for not hiring you doesn't add up, but biased/stupid VPs are dimes a dozen I guess. You're probably not in a position to talk directly to said VP, lest you break your director's confidence, right? If not, I'd suggest the very direct approach of asking him/her why. Not as a smartass, but by presenting this (to them) as an opportunity to learn and get better. I'd even work the angle of asking him/her to mentor you of you're missing key capabilities. That could completely flip the script. That said, you have absolutely no choice to look elsewhere - but never say this out loud - unless you're willing to go back to your old responsibilities. The problem is that your can't claim to do a job you were doing a year ago. Worse, if you say you managed a team and were voted out by higher management, it's a solid strike against you. There's simply no good way to spin this kind of demotion. Because, let's face it, it's a demotion we're talking about here. In your stead I'd start interviewing now that you still have the posity and spin it as "I'm ready to move on". Good luck!
Exercise some persuasion and influence. Build a relationship with that VP, apply some empathy from his/her perspective and ask for the rope to hang yourself. You never know, having the conversation may show the confidence you need to demonstrate.
Never depend on any company. Always have your resume updated. The tide changes all the time. You should've been promoted already after 1 year. I would've started to look for another job after 1 year if they weren't compensating me. Fyi - after you find a new job, they'll probably want to promote you. Don't take the promotion. Move on and start fresh... especially since the exec doesn't have faith in you
Indeed. Taking the counter-offer is rarely the better option. If you have to tell them you'll quit if you don't get what you deserve, how do you think you'll be treated if you stay? Just leave.
This is exactly what happened in my case. My Sr. Director told me to lead a team and that he will make me manager. Fast forward 4 months, when the review time came, he said the other higher managements didn’t approve my promotion to manager and hence he will try again in the next review cycle. Fast forward 2 months when I told him that I am leaving, the first thing he said was “oh I just got your promotion ready to become a manager”. And finally on the last day when I was having a 1:1 with my VP, he somehow came to know about this and told me that there was no recommendation from anyone to make me a manager this whole time!!! To this date idk why my Sr. Director fee me the lies. Bottom line, trust no one and have an exit plan ready. I learnt that nobody will look after your career but only yourself.
Whatever happens at the end, I want to point out that the exercise already made you a better self. It’ll be rewarded either here or somewhere else. Good luck.
Leave these assholes
What company?
Yeah, leave