Acquisitions and things

[Millionairerow]

Our company (11,000), took over a company of 850. However, the type of folk qualified to do our jobs outnumber us and we'll go from a dept of 15 to 45. They also have better job titles and whilst I've always been an influential member of group, I have been told ill report into a new team lead from the other company and will have 2 staff taken off me to give to. My current boss so she has a small team though been assured its got nothing to do with my abilities as a manager. My current boss while nice, is going into a different area of our expertise I am not interested in but also never really made time to have one to ones or coach me. I warned one of my dire t reports she may not report into me and when I said my current boss will be the only team lead from our company, she exclaimed she was worried about change in manager and also said our current boss who she will report into after the reorganisation, " does not have time to manage". I've told my head of dept I'm not happy as I want promotion but there's nowhere to go now and I don't like how it looks to have staff taken off me. Plus there will be 5 team leads with only one coming from the acquiring company! Seems madness to me but..... Should i tell head of dept re my staff members concerns? Or just ride the wave? I love managing but realistically I also have to show I am 70% of my time is costed to clients? A colleague at my level who has similar concerns is now on a 3 rd interview for another job and am wondering if I should start doing the same to get to the level I want.though I know sometimes the grass is not always greener elsewhere. I get a lot of flexibility which is important with 3 young children but mad does not even cover how I feel.

[JustSayNoNoNo]

Periods of upheaval like this are always disruptive and the uncertainty alone is stressful. Managers often don't appreciate or acknowledge the effect is has on their staff. Change management is not for the faint hearted.

It's legitimate to take your concerns to your manager: you may find they are equally unsettled and you will have an ally - or they may be unsettled and worried themselves, and make you even more concerned. Can you go to a higher level? Do it from the perspective of wanting to understand the bigger picture, get a clearer understanding of the strategy of the bigger organisation, explain you need some clarity about how your team/function will relate to other teams/functions, that you want to support your team cope with the changes as best you can - as well as wanting more information about your prospects both immediate and longer term.

But at the same time there is no harm in looking elsewhere. You will of course let your managers know in advance that you will be citing them as a referee on job applications. It may focus their minds.