Good-ish news.

[Air Ready Auto]

So I start this story by going back to the week before my family left for our Mexico vacation (July 16th to be exact).

 

July 16th. My old boss is escorted off the property. Very sad day. He was one of the best people I have ever worked for. Not completely sure of all of the details but it had something to do with a... difference of opinion with the owner. He had another job lined up anyway.

 

July 18th. He contacts me about following him to the new company and offers me more money than what I was making to go with him. I seriously consider going with him. I even go do an initial interview with him and that companies local VP. The interview goes well and I decide I will see what all they have to offer.

 

July 19th. My new area supervisor calls me into her office and goes on a rant about me leaving. I'm confused because I said nothing about anything. Come to find out my old boss had accidentally given his old company phone number (the phone he had turned in when he left) to the place where I would have been going to do my drug screening and they had called that number to confirm that I had set up an appointment. She had me busted. So I came clean about some of the concerns I had about, well, everything. The biggest one being that it was a bit of a joke that any time there was an internal posting for a upper level job it would be quickly followed with an email welcoming someone from another company. She somewhat condescendingly asked me what exactly I had to offer the company that made me think I would qualify for anything above where I was. So I told her. I told her about my military experience and how I quickly had advanced in rank and had been placed in charge of multiple work centers and duty sections and even how I had been placed in charge of training for an entire division. I told her about previous jobs and how I have always moved quickly into management positions. She had no idea about anything from my past. (Never bothered to check my file and admitted it). She offered me more money than my old boss was to stay.

 

July 23rd. Our area VP comes down to our location to "clear the air" about my old boss leaving and about another upper management termination. He also posts a sheet for filling my old bosses position. After the meeting he asked me if I had decided to stay. I gave a noncommittal answer. He told me I was going to apply for my old bosses position on the 27th. I let him know I couldn't because my family and I were leaving for Mexico late on the 26th. He told me he would be there early morning on the 26th and that I would be applying then. Ok then.

 

July 26th. I meet the VP at 7:30am and talk to him for about an hour or so. He asks me several questions about everything. Apparently he had talked to my area supervisor who had filled him in on the conversation I had with her. I figured I had nothing to loose because I had another job if need be so I let him have it. I was more than blunt with my answers (not rude just completely honest). About a half hour later he tells me the job is mine if I want it and all the rest of the interview is formality. The package we settled on was quite nice.

 

September 7th. I had been in my new role for a few weeks after returning from vacation. Everything was going smoothly for having just transitioned. The area VP and president come down for a meeting with our management team. After, they pull me aside and ask how things are going. I give them my take on things and we start talking about different projects and they are asking about this one and that one and such. Apparently I got on the presidents radar because over the course of my short time in this position I had managed to close out 7 very large jobs that had been sitting in our planner for over a month and he had, through the course of conversation, been informed by one of our clients that I'm an "unstoppable freight train hell bent on completing projects".

 

Today 3:30pm. After closing out 3 more significant jobs I am told that I have no limitations and I can feel free to take this position as far as I want.

 

All sounds good right... The problem. I find myself under a microscope. I'm not perfect and I'm bound to mess something up especially under that kind of scrutiny. Sure I'm doing good now but that's because those jobs had not been processed since my old boss left. I really didn't do anything special. I don't want to be put on a pedestal because my balance sucks. The higher you get the farther you have to fall. The higher you get the bigger a target you become. I'm hoping expectations don't exceed possibilities.

[Flyinfool]

Congratulations-ish on the promotions. Sometimes it is good to be the king. Other times it just make you the target for someone else aspirations to move up the corporate ladder.

 

I really hope this all works out great in the end.

[turtle]

Sounds like you have this just be true to yourself and do what you think is in the best interest of the company and you already know you can do this and now everyone else does to. Congratulations it just shows you that hard work does pay off once you are free to show it.

[campfire12]

Best of luck my friend, You got this!!!!!

[XV1100SE]

Glad it all worked out for you. Just keep being yourself and doing what you have been done. Being blunt often isn't accepted by higher ups but at least your company is listening and giving you free rein to get things done.

[sydem]

You sound like a up standing gentlemen that is not afraid to step on toes if needed. I believe management put you into that position because they saw something in you and appreciated you honesty. Keep doing what you feel is right, it got you the job and will carry you through this transition. Once you hit president then you can worry..........

[Condor]

I've always had a great working relationship with my boss, and never felt like I was put under the scope.... Been self employed for over 40 years...

[WildBill1]

Don't get lonely at the top always have someone too run interference when you run out of, "Atta Boys".

[BlueSky]

I remember a friend who was the operations manager at a nuclear power plant who said sometimes he was a hero and sometimes a zero. He always did his best but it stressed him a lot. He was being groomed for higher positions until he decided to quit and become a school teacher. And of course as a teacher he coached a high school computer team that won a national contest! You just can't keep cream from rising to the top.

[RDawson]

I've always had a great working relationship with my boss, and never felt like I was put under the scope.... Been self employed for over 40 years...

 

I'm with you on the self employed thing Condor, but I've found my boss can also be the biggest ass around.:bang head:

[Graywulf]

Well done on the promotion.

 

I'm not in and never have been 'Managerial'. However all my work has revolved around self recognizance and self responsibility. I am going to pick your boss {VP} was probably pleased he had a staff member who 'gave it straight'. I've seen many times over the years when at a big staff meeting. **** has gotten real, because someone {yes I've done it} has stood up and told it how it is. Many middle managers will fudge/hide/misdirect blame/avoid situations or responsibility. Upper management often have no real clue as to 'how it is downstairs'

My current career we have a 'middle manager' whose 'chooks have just come home to roost', we are waiting to see what unfolds.

I would really suggest, carry on how you started, be straight, be honest, if you F*** up, tell them, if something needs sorting from a higher level, let the VP know. The VP may well be enjoying having such a manager working for them.

[cecdoo]

Congrats, I am sure it feels great to finally get recognized for your abilities. I would keep doing exactly what you have been doing, it got you into the job, I bet it will keep you there. Wouldnt spend a whole lot of time worrying about something that may never happen, just enjoy it for what it is.

All the best, Craig

[Venture n Dixie]

Even Nick Saban looses a game occasionally. It’s always a “learning experience”.

You are right though. The higher up the ladder you go the more eyes see you.

Armchair quarterbacks are a dime a dozen.

This world needs conscientious, responsible, hard working leaders in a bad way.

It irks me that today’s concept of a hero is often the villain and the old fashioned hero is slaughtered for entertainment.

That concept can’t produce anything positive!

You’ve taken a stand and been rewarded. Have confidence in your ability and know that your lifeblood isn’t tied to any one company. You have friends in the field that appreciate your talent regardless who signs your pay check.

Congrats. You’re doing something right!

[Beachbum]

Don’t overthink things. Just show up everyday, do your best, and let the chips fall where they may. If you give your best as you’ve been doing you won’t have to worry even if there is a microscope following you around and they ——can you in the future! You’ll just move on and be fine. And always be honest. When you succeed be honest. When you fail be honest. That will help you immeasurably.

[Patch]

Lots can be said about the event's leading up to this turning of the tides in your favor.

 

In both interviews you lead a party of one, you weighed the potentials and you played the hand dealt. All singular true but not singular minded.

 

If a leader can't stand for himself then he can't lead effectively. If you are to have a position where others who may have less risk are to follow you, then simply let them know you want to build a winning team and that, the winning part is the collective part of the team.

 

Your last paragraph though I would address head on, perhaps in a memo or report summery. My opinion is, such leftovers don't deal themselves out. Meaning I would deal fairly with the facts (as you know them) then build your record without possibility of back-draft or shirttail comments down the road.

 

Enjoy man you earned it

Patch

Edited September 18, 2018 by Patch

[uhfradarwill]

I know this thread is old people but please let me weigh in.

This story smells of corporate America or at least a profit driven private company!!

 

I've done Active Duty Military and corporate communications folks and all I can say is Academia / Research is where it is at ppl!!

[RedRider]

Congratulations on your promotions. Being under a microscope (or at least having greater visibility) is always nerve-wracking, but it is the price of being higher in an organization.

 

Heard an interesting phrase the other day - The higher up the pole a monkey climbs, the more visible his ass.

 

Yes, you will occasionally fail. So does your boss and his boss. Just be truthful as to what happened, don't cover anything up, and don't ever blame an underling (nor take their credit when deserved).

 

What type of work?

 

RR

[Air Ready Auto]

Congratulations on your promotions. Being under a microscope (or at least having greater visibility) is always nerve-wracking, but it is the price of being higher in an organization.

 

Heard an interesting phrase the other day - The higher up the pole a monkey climbs, the more visible his ass.

 

Yes, you will occasionally fail. So does your boss and his boss. Just be truthful as to what happened, don't cover anything up, and don't ever blame an underling (nor take their credit when deserved).

 

What type of work?

 

RR

 

Fleet maintenance. My department is geared towards trailer maintenance. We do just about anything a customer will pay us to do. Anything from complete wreck to gladhand seals. We have accounts with both nation wide companies and single unit owner operators.

 

Today my boss hit me with a heavy one. Hit a certain number or face potential layoffs. It's not an impossible number but not an easy one. Freight is moving hard right now and everybody is ignoring any problems waiting for the unit to be completely dead before fixing it. Going to be an interesting month... I'm pulling everything I can get my hands on and pushing overtime with my guys. Fingers crossed...