Sizwe MkhizeProject ManagerPretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Good day.
I have a little situation I would appreciate some advice on.
I work in what was a small company. I was brought into the organisation because the director could not keep up with the duties of a project manager while looking after the entire company at the same time. Thus a Product Manager and I joined the organisation.
And we were brilliant at our roles. As a result, the Director could do all the things that he has wanted to be doing. Without exaggeration, the organisation has had a small boom directly becuase of the work and energy we put. The director continued to drive the business forward, but as a direct consequence, this also distanced him from the details of the business line. I was very pleased with this arrangement as it gave me all the opportunity that I could successfully run the business even though I am was not formally hired to do so. I was and still ama Project Manager, and along with the Product Manager, we coordinated almost 90% of everything that was happening in the business division. We held the ship together, and regardless of the difficulties, we made sure that the team always produced. It was ourselves and our direct director, and all was fine, at least that's what I thought.
Instead of being put on the path to eventually run the division, even when I had voiced my want to professionally grow towards the executive path (and that's why I am doing the MBA now), another manager was brought into the organisation to do exactly what I had wanted to do in future. At times I still ask myself, if there was something wrong that I was doing, a question that I have asked the director.
The presence of the new manager has wholly removed any line of sight I had with the progression of my career in that organisation. Worse still, for the first time in working there, now I am being encouraged to focus only on "project manager". This happens right at the time when I am looking to expand my career.
Its an incredibly tricky situation and quite frankly I'm not sure how to approach it if it is worth it. There is nothing scarier than the thought of being in a dead-end position while aspiring to a C-level position in a global firm.
It is possible that I had no idea how to become a c level personnel. Then what exactly does it take? I would appreciate any thoughts on this.
Thank you.
Regards, Sizwe Saving Changes...
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Annie IrizariCEO/Founder,Entrepreneur, Investor, Consultant| Core Community Housing, CS Professional Services Rio Rancho, Nm, United States
Sizwe,
1. Ask your why (not the reasons) on getting to the top? the how is not as important as the why.
2. what does the 'top' look like - pros and cons?
3. The games and politics played at the top and even as you climb that ladder might compromise your values, integrity, character and ethics. Are you willing to sell your soul? - I would not, you can't give me enough money or title or perks for me to sell my soul. You have a moral compass and as PMs we are bound to code of ethics and conduct (yeah okay so not too many questions on the exam) that need to be a part of our thinking and behaviors (they are NOT NEGOTIABLE) no matter where we are in our career. Take a look at https://www.pmi.org/about/ethics/public-reprimand and decide what the trade offs are for your situation.it's easy to forget and dismiss the ethics part as out of sight out of mind, but it starts and ends here for me.
4. money and title, perks etc is not the end all be all, be careful what you ask for.
Hope this gives you perspective....doing things right vs. doing the right thing are two different sides of the same coin, don't forget the edge is the third part of that coin, albeit the skinniest part. Let your yes be yes and your no be no- you can't have your cake and eat it too. Saving Changes...
A tough situation, and one I've faced earlier in my career. The advice I received which I will pass on to you is to evaluate whether you have an opportunity to learn from the new manager, develop his/her trust in your abilities and be positioned by him/her as his/her successor.
If the answer is "no" or you don't want to wait to confirm whether such an opportunity exists, then there are always other pastures but they may not be as verdant as they appear from far...
Kiron Saving Changes...
Deepesh RammoorthyICT Project Manager ( PMP®AgilePM®Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®))| Australian Red Cross Blood ServiceTarneit, Vic, Australia
Sizwe
I agree with Kiron with regards to developing that new manager's trust in your abilities. Offer to help them as much as you can because you already have the insight into how this business runs. You have the knowledge and you are "well" positioned to offer them something. If you genuinely and selflessly help them as a Giver without expecting anything in return and if that manager notices this selflessness in you, they may be your biggest champion. They may "pay it forward" and you may be presented with an Unprecedented Management opportunity somewhere else. As you would know "Word of Mouth" is a powerful thing.
It may also go the other way , where this Manager is a "Taker" and they may just use you to better their prospect OR they may be a Matcher and they may have an ulterior motive of "Scratch my back and I will scratch yours".
(you can read Adam Grant's " Give and Take - A revolutionary approach to success...."a really good book )
Either way , you have nothing to lose. 1) You will get a valuable experience understanding their personality and how to tackle people like them in future effectively if they turn out to be a Taker. 2) You may make a very good friend or champion out of them for your future prospects if they are a giver or a matcher. 3) You are already strengthening your skills and business acumen by doing your MBA so you are already setting yourself up for management ascent. 4) As Kiron said this is not the only opportunity . You can use this industry knowledge to excel at a future company. Saving Changes...
Anton OosthuizenSenior Business Analyst / Project Manager| Self EmployedPretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Sizwe it would be good to know where you are with your career at this stage. How log have you been in your current position, what did you do before, how old are you etc. Keep in mind that career progression is not always a linear line just moving up in one smooth continues motion. There will be times where you will end up staying longer than you might anticipate. This does not means you don't need to be ambitious. Also your path to C level might not be at the current company, it might just be a stepping stone, only you will know this. But most importantly, choose your boss wisely. While it does not sound like you have this problem you do find 'leaders'/'manager' who do not believe in promoting the career of a subordinate because they want to build an empire.
Do what you were hired to do and do it well while keeping an eye open for opportunities. Saving Changes...
Please be advised that reaching top does not necessarily mean that you are on track and are progressing. You really need to have a Career Plan. Saving Changes...
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
