What is OfficePolitics.com? Real People. Real Problems. Expert Advice.
Franke James is Editor/Founder of Office-Politics.com and Inventor of the Office-Politics® Game. Peter R. Garber has worked as an HR professional for over 25 years and is the author of many business books including: Winning the Rat Race at Work and 100 Ways to Get on the Wrong Side of your Boss. Dina Beach Lynch, is an Ombudsman, Author and former attorney. An award-winning mediator, Dina served as the Corporate Ombudsman for the 7th largest bank in the US helping over 48,000 employees to resolve workplace issues. Dr. Rick Brandon is CEO of Brandon Partners. He has consulted and trained tens of thousands at corporations worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies across a variety of industries. Dr. Marty Seldman is one of America's most experienced executive coaches. His 35-year career includes expertise in executive coaching, group dynamics, cross-cultural studies, clinical psychology, and training. Arnie Herz, is a lawyer, mediator, speaker, author and consultant nationally recognized for his practical and inspired approach to conflict resolution and client counseling. Dr. John Burton LL.B. M.B.A. M.Div. Ph.D. is an ethicist, mediator, lawyer and theologian. John is currently located in Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada, working with Canada's aboriginal communities. |
I'm frustrated that I was overlooked, particularly since everyone else has since been promoted and I'm still in the same role I was in when I started...
September 2006 Dear Office-Politics, I've been working for a company for almost 4 years, helping
to build it from a start-up, going public, then ultimately being acquired
by a larger corporation. On the
one hand, I'm very frustrated that I was completely overlooked, particularly
since everyone else who came into the company at the same time has
since been promoted and I'm still in the same role I was in when i started.
On the other hand, I know I probably don't have the skills necessary
to take on the more senior position, which tells me that I'm not getting
the kind of experience here that I need in order to move upward in
my career. On top of this, the new manager is already pushing his weight
around and dictating to me how I should run my meetings and do my job,
when he has significantly less experience here than I do. Dear Disgruntled, Being overlooked for a promotion and then having to work for someone new to the organization who got the job is a very difficult situation. Your new boss is trying to prove to someone (probably his new boss) that the organization made the right choice in hiring him. He may even try to make this point by trying to show that you wouldn't have done the right things if you had been given the job. It's not surprising that he is trying to make his mark by changing the way that you conduct meetings or do your job. You seem to have good insight into what skills you presently have as well as what skills you need to develop for future advancement. Have you discussed with your new boss how you could gain this needed experience? Or is there anyone else in the organization that you could approach about developing these skills? Perhaps you could discuss this with someone who has been supportive of you from the beginning of your employment with the company. Understanding if the organization is interested in helping your develop your managerial skills or not will help you better understand what you should do concerning your future. You do have an important decision to make- to stay or to leave the organization. If you leave, you may be throwing away four years of experience in your field as well as a lot of hard work. On the other hand, if you stay you will have to continue to work for your new boss who seems at least for the moment to have something to prove. I can't make this decision for you but will offer this advice. Whatever your decision, make it in a constructive not destructive manner. In other words, don't allow your current situation to get to the point where you get yourself in trouble with your new boss that would be counterproductive to your career goals. If you find yourself getting to that point, it would be better to leave on your own. On the other hand, you shouldn't leave a job without another one to go to. Begin by finding out how good are your outside options for a job that are equal or better than you have with your current employer. Dust off your resume and begin sending it out to prospective employers. Once you get a better idea how marketable you are to other organizations you can then make a better decision about your future. Don't act just out of emotion but based on what is best for you and your career. Keep thinking objectively about what is best for you and your future career not how angry you might feel about having to work for your new boss. Thanks for writing to Office-Politics. Regards, Peter Office-Politics Review: 100 Ways to Get on the Wrong Side of Your Boss 100 Ways to Get on the Wrong Side of Your Boss by Peter R. Garber is an entertaining and humorous read designed to help you improve your relationship with your Boss. Garber, who is the author of over 40 books, draws on his 25-years experience as a Human Resources Professional, to give readers ‘tips on how to deal with difficult bosses’. He says, “The challenge is to find ways to deal with even the most difficult bosses you may have to work for during your career.” Read the full review
The Ethics Letters that appears as a feature of this Website is an educational and discussion oriented column designed to help the reader better understand ethical issues. The matters discussed in the letter are reviewed in a summary/abbreviated way and are only meant to foster thinking on the part of the reader. If a person decides to adopt or implement suggestions, they do so at their own risk. No representation or warranty is provided in relation to suggestions or the contents of the letter. Neither the authors of the letter, Franke James, John W. Burton, or the owners of this Website accept any liability whatsoever for any opinions expressed in the letter or for errors and omissions. Submission of letters to the Office-Politics Forum grants the Publisher, Nerdheaven Ltd. the right to reproduce, republish, repurpose and excerpt the submission in any and all other media, without compensation or contacting the author. Copyright Nerdheaven Ltd. 2002-2006
|