One Managers Journal

This is the real life journal of a manager I know. To read what this is all about, start here.

To comment on these entries, or ask questions, go to the Management Forum and post in the folder titled titled "Journal".

Number 1 (cont.)

D (the Director) passes around several pieces of paper. Emotions and facial expressions run the gamut as people discreetly search for their names and their particular interests. I see poker faces, grimaces, frowns, wide eyes, smiles, surprise (some real, some fake). I hear sighs, mumbling, at one chuckle; but thankfully, no tears.

Our division (hereafter called section A), has been merged with another division that many employees had long thought should partner more with ours (hereafter called section B). The former leaders (NOT!!) have been reassigned to special project administrator positions, the interim manager (a contracted position) -- whom we were all suspicious of initially --emerged as a living ledged within state government and our SHEro. She immediately recognized that the problem was NOT the employees -- but the managers -- and made sure the director knew it; something we as employees could never do. The manager and assistant manager from section B are now co-managers of this new entity (hereafter called section C). Two of the key players from section A are now Interim Team Liaisons. One person who was the employee-in-absentia during the entire process is suddenly concerned enough to wonder out loud "What does Team Liaison mean and how were these two chosen." The standard pat answer follows. Though many of us were wondering the same thing, most of us were too happy and excited about our new venture to dampen the mood with such pettiness.

After the meeting, several people (one by one) showed up at my office wanting to know how I felt, and patting me on the back; saying things like "We all know who did the most work..." and "...Their leadership, coaching and project management skills can't touch yours..." Among the rumors of the previous two weeks was that we would be divided into four sections and that I would be one of the section leaders. When that didn't happen, some people (myself included) thought that I should be chosen as one of the two liaisons.

I have to admit that while I'm happy about the new direction, the new leadership (specifically that my old manager is out of my hair), and my new WINDOW office, I had some of the same concerns my peers had about my not being chosen as team liaison. But then I thought: I've learned more about organizational culture and behavior than I could have ever learned in a textbook, I've chosen and/or created enough interesting high profile projects that my name is often mentioned in high-level executive meetings, one of my projects puts me in direct contact with the Executive Director (he reports to the Governor), people seek my expertise and advice on things, and few high impact projects get done without my input. Hmm...Not a bad position to be in. After all, those team liaison positions are interim. This way, I get to continue working on WOW projects without getting caught up in the administrative minutia (sp?) required for the liaison position. AND, I by doing this, I'm not only strategically managing my own career, but I can contribute to the success of the two liaisons without being monitored and critiqued (there are at least two people watching, waiting, and eager to help them fail) along the way. Sounds like a win/win/win to me!

Continued.......

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