Caught between VPs and direct manager, advice please
Background - been with company 3 years. Worked my way up in corporate from Frontline to upper management. I'm responsible for a team of 22people. I know executive leadership is brainstorming ways to improve our impact and bottom line. Situation - the VP and I were talking about ideas and he suggested sending him some. But my director also talked to him, and stated adamantly that he (the VP) is not asking/wanting pilot proposals (this directly contradicts the conversation I had with VP,) Problems 1) if I send anything to VP now that she told me not to I'm going against her 2) but if I don't send it shows poor follow up with VP 3) I tried telling her about my conversation with him but director just barreled over me and dismissed anything I had to say I need ideas, because if I complain about her behavior it won't actually help me in developing ideas or suggestions...just derail more. I like my team, love my job, and get along with executive leadership and Frontline staff....but if handled poorly this could damage either my relationship with executives or with the person that I report to
This is a bit of a tricky situation. Hmmm. I'd recommend sending over the ideas via a document to both your director and the VP too. Make it sound collaborative by asking them to put in their comments and ideas so your director also feels like they're a part of this effort. Plus it'll show your passion for thinking big and not just being a cog in the wheel. Showing passion for your work can never backfire IMHO. Not following up will certainly damage your brand and reputation especially after your VP asked you to send ideas over. By emailing both your manager and VP you show transparency in communication so your director also is aware. Your director though sounds like a diminisher... Be alert :)
Thank you ❤️ I appreciate the time you took to give this advice. It's the first time she has adamantly said not to send ideas/proposals. And if I send it anyways I'll need to figure out how to phrase it. Since I'm like telling Director VP wants this and he told me he wants this....but then Director is like no he doesn't he told me he doesn't and I talked to him after you did.
Happy to help :). I've been in a similar situation before. This smells to me like "your manager is insecure".
It’s important that you don’t make your boss feel like you respect VP more than her. You would want to make sure that she knows that you respect her ideas . At the same time tell her how you feel about the ask from skip level . The more transparent you are to your manager, the more likely she will connect with you better.
Did you tell your boss that your VP asked for it ? If not FYI her and send it . Also ask her to look at it and give feedback on it
Yes I did... Her response was literally no he didn't, and you must have misunderstood what he is saying because I talked to him too and I know he doesn't want that
You should set up 1:1 with VP and tell this to him and also say this is causing a lot of confusion for you
The way I see it, your manager is insecure and worried that by sharing ideas directly with the VP, she will not get any credit. In fact, she may be seeing you as a threat to her role. Either that or she doesn't trust your ideas enough to let you communicate with the VP directly. I know this from my personal experience. The best approach is to let the VP know that you have a few ideas that you have shared with your manager for further refinement and either she will present those to you or we will present jointly. The last part depends on whether the director wants to do this alone. Hope she doesn't take all the credit for your work. With this approach, the onus will be on the director. Make sure to send her your ideas first. If the VP still insists, pretend you have some confusion about the ask and set up a meeting among 3 of you. Let us know what you do and the outcome. Good luck!
That’s what she said
Sounds like a shitty boss tbh. I'd get out of that job if possible. Or throw your boss under the boss.
Just open a private messaging channel like in slack, between you, your boss and the VP. And explain commonly to both of them that you are hearing 2 different directions from each of them and that you are not sure which way to go. Now, They will have to come to an agreement in front of you and most likely will guide you right. Sometimes you have to play the “innocent” 🙂
We do have an IM system.... If that doesn't work I could try to get the 2 of them in the same area ...thank you. You've given me a lot to think about