Wrong branch of forked path
April 7, 2022 2:47 AM Subscribe
I have (provisionally) accepted a promotion at my current org, but a new role is potentially happening to which I'm much better suited. Too late to say anything?
After many years of working in a creative capacity (widget ideation) I was moved into more straightforward delivery (widget rollout) when my previous organisation restructured. I was unhappy at the time but learned lots of new skills, gained good experience and eventually moved to another org, still in the widget rollout space. Suffice to say I LOVE new org, and can see myself staying here, in any capacity, for a good few years.
At new org there has been a big strategic investment. A new lab has been proposed, headed by a Widget Ideation Lead, but it's not yet confirmed as it will need a hefty budget to realise. Signs are positive though. This was effectively my dream role for a long time.
In the meantime, my line manager moved up and I have provisionally accepted their former role as Head of Widget Rollout (HoWR). I'm excited about getting to support and head a great team, but realistically this role will be much 'drier' than the creative, project-driven one that's (potentially) coming up. They are both at the same level (same salary) and are immediate peers reporting to the same manager.
I had my reasons for applying for the HoWR role rather than waiting for the creative one. Mainly because it all seems a bit nebulous at the moment. However, this lab will be properly resourced and - importantly - allowed to fail. They will be managing stuff that I have a lot of fairly unique, professional experience in that is unusual for my sector. More importantly, I think it suits my need for novelty and independent working.
On the other hand, the 'Head Of' role is about building and refocusing the current delivery team. Designing new processes and empowering people, ensuring that we actually achieve impact at scale. (This is all non-profit, btw). And - importantly - it actually exists and is a recognised role within the org. It's a role I had before and largely enjoyed. Although it's not my dream role. But - possibly more important, if I don't take it I lose the line management relationship with my current boss and risk being managed by someone less experienced than me (this has happened before, it was not a good scene).
So. My question is this, how to I negotiate starting the HoWR role when the one I actually am better suited to is potentially coming up? I don't want to mess my manager around. I don't want to seem like a flake. I don't really know how to explain any of this to a boss who has been nothing but supportive, and keen for me to stay.
Options are:
a) Say nothing, go ahead with HoWR contract and roll with whatever happens
b) Go ahead with HoWR but express concerns and risk alienating boss (who presumably would be a bit pissed off)
c) Decline current job expressing potential fit issues/preference for upcoming role and risk not getting the new job (or it not happening at all)
Any thoughts?
After many years of working in a creative capacity (widget ideation) I was moved into more straightforward delivery (widget rollout) when my previous organisation restructured. I was unhappy at the time but learned lots of new skills, gained good experience and eventually moved to another org, still in the widget rollout space. Suffice to say I LOVE new org, and can see myself staying here, in any capacity, for a good few years.
At new org there has been a big strategic investment. A new lab has been proposed, headed by a Widget Ideation Lead, but it's not yet confirmed as it will need a hefty budget to realise. Signs are positive though. This was effectively my dream role for a long time.
In the meantime, my line manager moved up and I have provisionally accepted their former role as Head of Widget Rollout (HoWR). I'm excited about getting to support and head a great team, but realistically this role will be much 'drier' than the creative, project-driven one that's (potentially) coming up. They are both at the same level (same salary) and are immediate peers reporting to the same manager.
I had my reasons for applying for the HoWR role rather than waiting for the creative one. Mainly because it all seems a bit nebulous at the moment. However, this lab will be properly resourced and - importantly - allowed to fail. They will be managing stuff that I have a lot of fairly unique, professional experience in that is unusual for my sector. More importantly, I think it suits my need for novelty and independent working.
On the other hand, the 'Head Of' role is about building and refocusing the current delivery team. Designing new processes and empowering people, ensuring that we actually achieve impact at scale. (This is all non-profit, btw). And - importantly - it actually exists and is a recognised role within the org. It's a role I had before and largely enjoyed. Although it's not my dream role. But - possibly more important, if I don't take it I lose the line management relationship with my current boss and risk being managed by someone less experienced than me (this has happened before, it was not a good scene).
So. My question is this, how to I negotiate starting the HoWR role when the one I actually am better suited to is potentially coming up? I don't want to mess my manager around. I don't want to seem like a flake. I don't really know how to explain any of this to a boss who has been nothing but supportive, and keen for me to stay.
Options are:
a) Say nothing, go ahead with HoWR contract and roll with whatever happens
b) Go ahead with HoWR but express concerns and risk alienating boss (who presumably would be a bit pissed off)
c) Decline current job expressing potential fit issues/preference for upcoming role and risk not getting the new job (or it not happening at all)
Any thoughts?
If it were me, I would be honest with management and discuss my interest in the creative position. I am a manager and I see many folks that are afraid to talk about what they want. I know it's hard to put yourself out there, but you may also be losing out on some good opportunities for development. You have a good number of years left in your career, and I think you'll regret not shooting your best shot at your dream role.
Also, does your company have any restrictions for internal movement? Where I work, you are not eligible to move/apply to another position for the first 6 months. It's only allowed if the CEO approves (like it has to be an emergency situation).
Best of luck!
posted by jraz at 5:38 AM on April 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
Also, does your company have any restrictions for internal movement? Where I work, you are not eligible to move/apply to another position for the first 6 months. It's only allowed if the CEO approves (like it has to be an emergency situation).
Best of luck!
posted by jraz at 5:38 AM on April 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
Always negotiate from your 100%! Start by laying out exactly what your ideal situation is and why. You’ll often need to compromise but at least you won’t be compromising on a compromise.
Tell your boss exactly how you feel - that the creative job is a better fit for you and you’d like to be considered for it. Ask / offer what you can do to help ease the transition (take this job for a gap, help lead the job search to fill this role you don’t want, help train the new person, etc.)
Good luck!
posted by nouvelle-personne at 6:42 AM on April 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
Tell your boss exactly how you feel - that the creative job is a better fit for you and you’d like to be considered for it. Ask / offer what you can do to help ease the transition (take this job for a gap, help lead the job search to fill this role you don’t want, help train the new person, etc.)
Good luck!
posted by nouvelle-personne at 6:42 AM on April 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
Hm. I don't know if you're female, but the way you're talking about this reminds me of a thing that Sheryl Sandberg noted about women, that we tend to "leave before we leave."
Like, she noted that women will decline a promotion because they are considering getting pregnant. Whereas a man doesn't typically decline advancement for any reason. A man will like, accept a promotion and then use it as leverage to get more money with a different company in, like, five minutes.
I think you should take the HoWR role, and then, AFTER the role you really want comes open (if it does) actively apply/lobby for it. Consider framing it to yourself and your boss (when the time comes, not now) as super-awesome and as you applying from a position of strength. Because you will have gotten to know the HoWR role, begun to prove yourself in that role with your boss, and you would therefore be positioned for serious consideration for what would then be a lateral move. You could frame it as a major win for everybody.
I would not withdraw from the HoWR promotion with the idea that you would later apply for the other role. That is just too tenuous and there are too many things that might go wrong. And personally I would not be super-candid with your boss at this point. I would frame it more, later, as "I took the HoWR job and it's awesome and I have such a solid understanding of everything we're trying to do now: I am PERFECT for [other role] now, yay!"
posted by Susan PG at 9:12 AM on April 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
Like, she noted that women will decline a promotion because they are considering getting pregnant. Whereas a man doesn't typically decline advancement for any reason. A man will like, accept a promotion and then use it as leverage to get more money with a different company in, like, five minutes.
I think you should take the HoWR role, and then, AFTER the role you really want comes open (if it does) actively apply/lobby for it. Consider framing it to yourself and your boss (when the time comes, not now) as super-awesome and as you applying from a position of strength. Because you will have gotten to know the HoWR role, begun to prove yourself in that role with your boss, and you would therefore be positioned for serious consideration for what would then be a lateral move. You could frame it as a major win for everybody.
I would not withdraw from the HoWR promotion with the idea that you would later apply for the other role. That is just too tenuous and there are too many things that might go wrong. And personally I would not be super-candid with your boss at this point. I would frame it more, later, as "I took the HoWR job and it's awesome and I have such a solid understanding of everything we're trying to do now: I am PERFECT for [other role] now, yay!"
posted by Susan PG at 9:12 AM on April 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
I would not do your option c, no matter what. Take the bird in hand, because plans change. I once interviewed for a job and was told, mid-process, "actually there's a manager position opening in the next couple weeks on this big project and you'd be the only person in the company with relevant experience in both of the tech stacks being integrated, and the director is excited to have you come lead it." I accepted an offer, gave notice at my old job, and by the time I started only three weeks later there had been a big org change. The director who wanted me to lead that project was gone, the new guy in charge of the project wanted to fill the manager role from a different office (and never filled it at all, it turned out), and they were just hiring me into the thing I'd interviewed for in the first place instead of the thing they pivoted to.
If you can trust your boss, and if your organization isn't too rigid about promotions and internal moves, then I'd be honest about your desire to be in the potential role, should it come to exist, while still taking the new promotion that is currently on offer. You could point out that you could still take the boss' old role on an interim basis and make the lateral move only when (1) the new org chart is actually going live, and (2) they can backfill your boss' old (and your interim) role. They won't know you're interested in the other role if you haven't told them, and they may be making plans for new hires or other promotions. Take the job that's offered now, but get in line for the job you want if you can.
posted by fedward at 11:29 AM on April 7, 2022
If you can trust your boss, and if your organization isn't too rigid about promotions and internal moves, then I'd be honest about your desire to be in the potential role, should it come to exist, while still taking the new promotion that is currently on offer. You could point out that you could still take the boss' old role on an interim basis and make the lateral move only when (1) the new org chart is actually going live, and (2) they can backfill your boss' old (and your interim) role. They won't know you're interested in the other role if you haven't told them, and they may be making plans for new hires or other promotions. Take the job that's offered now, but get in line for the job you want if you can.
posted by fedward at 11:29 AM on April 7, 2022
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posted by socksister at 2:53 AM on April 7, 2022