Fighting a losing battle?

[NoisyBrain]

Apologies in advance, this could be long.

I joined a family-run business last January in what seemed an exciting role with plenty of potential to make an impact. Enjoyed it at first but later in the year the business owner was taken ill and sadly died.

A relative took over as boss and things have changed, not for the better. The relative is hugely ambitious - not a bad thing in itself, but he is choosing to ignore the fact that our systems and infrastructure are woefully incapable of keeping up with the level of growth he is trying to push through. Our customer service is going down the toilet as a result of people being overstretched but he continues to demand more output.

One of the main things I, and the other member of Senior Management (there are 3 of us including the boss) tried to instigate from the start was more of a customer-focused approach to the business, as it was sorely lacking before. I am so frustrated that we are now pissing off many, many customers and our reputation, which other SM & I have worked so hard to improve, is being trashed online. We have raised this with the boss more than once, but he just doesn't seem to take it seriously enough to consider how his actions are impacting things.

He is also hugely resistant to having team meetings, which used to occur regularly with the old boss, so it makes it really hard to plan anything, or to know what he's got up his sleeve next. Instead we get ad hoc 5-minute conversations, usually to brief us on something he's decided by himself and just wants us to implement asap.

I'm genuinely afraid that the boss's approach is going to destroy the business one way or another. I could say even more about it but I think I've rambled enough!

I suppose other than venting, it's a bit of a WWYD post. I am quite stubborn and do really enjoy problem-solving, but I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle there. I've started looking out for other jobs, but now is not the best time to be doing that of course. I'd have to think quite creatively when describing my current role on my CV, as it has been nigh on impossible to achieve anything significant since we lost the old boss. I'm also conscious that I left my previous job after less than 2 years, so I worry how it will look if I'm doing the same with this one.

Interested to know who would cut their losses & quit vs stick it out.

[Moondust001]

If you choose to stay, you need to accept that the company will be run along the lines the new owner wants it running - like it or not. And honestly, you need to like it. He runs it into the ground, then I am afraid that it is his company to do that to. IT makes no sense, but you are an employee, not the owner. Frankly, I'd be looking for another job. Why? Because you say that you are stubborn and good at what you do. I'm going to take you at your word on both those things. Well he is stubborn and he has the company ownership on his side. You are going to clash, and when you do it will not be to your benefit.

If you have good cause to move on, most employers will be more interested in what you bring to them than how long you stayed. Why did you leave your last job?

[NoisyBrain]

Thanks for the reply. You are right of course, he will run it how he wants to run it. If I'm going to stay I need to stop clinging on to how it used to be.

It's such a shame though, his predecessor was always willing to listen to us (me and the other SM) and take our opinions on board. We were a true team. I think new boss sees respecting others' opinions as a sign of weakness.

As for my last job, I knew from day one that I had made a mistake going there. I was in Client Services and most of the clients were a nightmare. The workload was insane and the stress nearly killed me. I stuck it out for around 18 months because I was worried how it would look if I left sooner. I was at my previous jobs for 6 years and 13 years respectively, so at least when I applied for my current role I could refer to the previous one as a blip.

[Moondust001]

In that case I would tell the truth about the last job if asked. Everyone is entitled to make a mistake. If asked why I'm moving on now, I think I'd possibly go for either "I really didn't want to but I saw this opportunity and couldn't resist .... (With reasons why you couldn't resist)" or "with the best will in the world, you know how companies are struggling after Covid and I'm not sure the company can survive, so much as I enjoy my work I have to consider my position". Neither is an outright lie, is it?

[NoisyBrain]

I like your thinking, thanks