Game of power - what’s my best move?
Players: Me (Director), A(Sr Director), B(Director), CTO, CEO Theme: We are hiring a VP of engineering, who will report to CTO and manages all 3 Directors. It’s been several months, now the rumor says VP will be promoted from within. Relationships: -[updated] CEO was recently brought in by Board, CTO was a oldtimer. I am newly hired too. The VP who hired me left the company before my start date. - [updated] CEO doesn’t like the inefficiency in the engineering org. - CEO likes my vision on how to change the org. - CTO favors A. They are buddies. - B is A’s yes man. - CTO doesn’t like me, because I am close to CEO. - A acts as if he is the interim boss of the engineering department, and one of my direct report sided with him. - On the surface, we are polite to each other. Current situation: - CEO told me he will make B report to me and split the engineering org. Not many people know I have CEO’s favor. The traitor in my team didn’t know that. - A & B & CTO are working behind my back to sabotage me, taking away my projects, muting me within the company. They don’t know CEO’s plan yet, and they want to put A on VP position. - I have some ammunition (hard evidence) to report to HR to get A in trouble, but not enough to get him fired. Next move: What’s the best move to maximize my chance in this power play? Should I start the explicit fight to get rid of A? If you were me and win, will you fire B and the traitor direct report?
How big is your company?
600+ employees
Great cards you are having there man. Interesting plot.
You meant CEO card?
Not so great. OP is in a weird position
Well articulated post, good work. Just keep in mind that you will still be reporting to the same CTO when the dust settles. It may be okay to lose the battle for the war!
That’s why I am hesitant to turn in his buddy to HR.
This is so disturbing- humiliate B (does he have a wife or daughter?) WTF?!
If you’re having this much politics so early on in a startup, just leave. The company will shut down or get sold for far less than what investors paid (meaning you get nothing except if you have a deferred payment). The titles will mean diddly squat.
I’ve seen this happen
Not too small. 600 people, 300 engineers. Well-funded company.
🍿️
This sounds horrible. If I were you I would just quit and go buy a farm.
You can’t avoid Politics in corporations.
Yes you can. Just do your job and go home. Let your work stand for itself. If that doesn’t get you promoted, then find a company where it will. Your integrity is worth more than a fancy title and a large paycheck.
Are you technical? How’s cto, ceo get along?
Those guys must be not technical, only political.
Why wouldn’t ceo let the cto make the final call? What’s their relationship like? Anyone else around the ceo and cto you can get to support you with both of them? I’d stay away from the HR bit on A. Doubt it will be win win...unless someone else can drop that dime without it coming back to you as the rat...
CEO was brought in by Board not long ago, CTO was a oldtimer. I don’t know exactly how CEO and CTO get long. CEO can’t just ignore A, as A is higher in rank than me. CEO also can’t fire A for no reason. I need to go through a formal process to remove A.
You seem to love using “big” titles
s/titles/tities