Not the mama

I would love to post about Christopher's teacher. Those of you that are on Facebook may have seen my comment. However, if I do that I'll get really spun up. So I'll talk about work instead. My boss was in town this week so last night we went out to dinner for an "off site" meeting where we could speak freely.

And speak freely we did. Besides talking about kids and other normal things, we talked about work. And specifically my future. Not that anything he said was a surprise, but I was very appreciative of his candor. The status of my team has been in question. Over time we've gotten very good so now call volume is way down. I have 6 people reporting to me and realistically we need only 4. Also, he's supposed to have a meeting with the VP of Operations (outside of the IT department) that is most likely to discuss if our function should be moved to that department. And if that happens, my job is in question.

While my boss expressed full confidence in my abilities, if my current position is eliminated there's no guartentee he has a place for me. Also, he was very clear (by coming out and saying it) that I need to get away from his boss, our director. My boss' boss is the kind of person that once you're in their doghouse, you don't get out. And I got in her doghouse a long time ago. So there's no future in that organization. Further, there's no open positions in the IT department that I either care to do or am qualifed to do. We do a very poor job of grooming managers. Other organizations will put a manager in a new role to learn and develop. Not us. So even though I think I could be successful in any job I'm given, they won't give me the chance.

I've also looked at a couple of roles outside the IT department. One of the roles would have been awesome, but I don't have a marketing background so HR won't forward my resume to the hiring manager. Again, why not let me talk to the hiring manager and let that person make the decision? There was another position that I new I was qualified for, but it was a pay grade lower than mine. I spoke to one of my HR contacts about it since my current pay still fell in the pay range of this other job. But I found out that company policy is that if you take a job at a lower pay grade, you gotta take a pay cut no matter what. So that made that decision very easy.

So what does this all mean? It means I'm in my current job come hell or high water. It means the Lord is telling me to relax and trust Him. He's leading me down a road. In a reflection I heard Monday evening at a service the band played for, a Sister of Mercy said following God is sometimes like caving. You have a light on your head and all you can see is right what's in front of you. You have to trust God to get you to where you're going safely. And that's where I'm at. I trust God will get me to where I need to go safely.

I did happen to see a position online with another company that I would love. It's running the operations of a Catholic non-profit organization. I don't have all of the qualifications they stated, but I'm confident I can learn anything I need to know. I submitted my resume but I'm not getting my hopes up. But, as I just said, I go where God leads me. If that's where I'm to be, then it'll happen. If not, then the right thing will come along. But I'm beginning to suspect my future lies with another company. Which is too bad because I really do want to make the company I'm in better. But it's beginning to feel like they don't want or don't value my talents. Which would be their loss.

Comments

Jammie J. said…
Sometimes companies don't WANT to get better. They say they do, of course, but actions speak louder than words. If they maintain status quo or hire inferior people, well... then it's obvious that they're ok with where they are.

Listening to employees, appreciating employees, guiding employees -- those are all things a great employer will do. Putting someone in the doghouse? Not professional.

Of course, I'll keep your situation in my prayers.
sydwynd said…
Jammie: I wonder sometimes. We talk a really good game. But since the merger of like 5 years ago, we're not that much closer to being a single company than when we started. By the end of the year we'll FINALLY be on one IT system but there's still an US/THEM mentality in a lot of departments. The prayers are very much appreciated.
Jude said…
It sounds to me like the company could have the very best advice for positive change and it wouldn't matter, they would still go kicking and screaming trying to keep things "the way they are". You're right Vince, it is their loss.

And at the same time, it's none of your business, so to speak. Your business is to do what you can in your current position until God leads you to where you need to be. A tough position to be in, and I too will be keeping you in my prayers.

As for the boss whose doghouse you are in, that just smacks of childishness doesn't it? I'm feeling like this company surely isn't the place where you need to be in future, at least not as it is. Who knows, in the Big Plan who is to say that she and others might not even end up out the door?

How interesting and enlightening it would be sometimes to get into God's head.... Hang in there! Better things will happen for you. (((hugs)))
sydwynd said…
Jude: You're absolutely right. All I can do is what I'm doing. Oddly enough, even with all the crap going on at work, I haven't felt this at peace in a long time. I guess that's what happens when you let God take care of stuff. Truthfully, the thing that keeps me up at night isn't my job, but Christopher. He's a little over 3 years from college and it's starting to dawn on me my boy is growing up. And it scares me that I haven't helped him enough to get ready for the real world out there.

That's what's really important to me.
Jude said…
Not to worry my friend, 3 years is a long time and you have a lot of experience and love to share with Christopher yet!
sydwynd said…
Jude: Seems that way but 15 years has gone by pretty quick so far. These next three will go by quicker that it will seem.

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