To be annoyed that I got an "olive branch"

[feelingstucktoday]

So there's two of us... I've always been very clear that I wanted to become a manager/TL as I've been one in the past and it was my "happy place"

Anywho, my manager did promise me something like than in the past (can't remember the last time she mentioned it but I'm sure it was around 9 months ago).

I had a "blip" of like 6 weeks where I had an "existencial crisis" and it was made clear that maybe this role wasn't necessarily the path to my fulfillment.

There's been a reshuffle, and it turns out that new "leadership" roles have been created, and my colleague (not me) has been given the TL role.

Instead, my manger has given me a "global role" with overarching visibility but nobody reports to me. So yes, I do have more exposure to other departments, yes I'm in charge of the multi-million deals, but it's still unclear to me how much agency I'll have,.or if I'd have to run things with my new TL. She has no experience of that sort of projects (as I've solely managed them from the start) so I'm still lost within the roles and responsibilities.

My manager tried to wrap it as a "good thing" as I was not limiting myself to just one role, and that it would be easier for me to jump to either a more senior overarching role, or directly under a VP.

I'm grateful that I'm employed and that I have a very good salary, etc... but I wish it has been an open conversation or "race".

I think there's definitely wisdom in what my manager is saying, but I just don't feel ill ever get to a managerial role here.

What did the existential crisis look like?

Yes, I’d like to know too what 6 weeks worth looked like, do elucidate OP

...but it's still unclear to me how much agency I'll have,.or if I'd have to run things with my new TL. She has no experience of that sort of projects (as I've solely managed them from the start) so I'm still lost within the roles and responsibilities.

Why don't you see how it goes before looking for problems that don't yet exist?

Some of my work got sloppy (not all of it by a long stretch).

BUT from my new TL I was made feel like I was not doing enough because she said she was always busy and I wasn't.

After running some reports it turned out she always over exaggerated how busy she was.

Our roles have a process side and a commercial side, I've always excelled on the commercial side with my revenue being higher by 50-60% .

You may be great at the job, but they clearly don’t think you have the capacity to manage others. You do sound a bit airy fairy and it sounds like they’ve given you a role which works with your strengths; you’ll be doing the job which you say yourself that you’re very successful at. You just don’t have anyone reporting into you, given your “crisis,” that seems sensible.

Sounds like you do have a managerial role. It's just not people you're managing.

Yes, this.

Best to keep one’s existential crises to oneself in professional situations.

Was there ever a conversation about your suitability for the role and why? Nobody is giving out promotions because its is the individuals "happy place", there has to be a solid business reason for it.

Sounds ideal! Who wants to be managing people….it’s the worst part of more senior roles.

😀

Sounds like you need a coach, being very polite here possibly a therapist? You sound a bit too inward focussed. How is the business best served with your skillset? Be honest with yourself.

I can see why you feel overlooked. If it work considering looking elsewhere OP? I find new hirers seem to get offered things old hands get overlooked for.

Well I don't think she has it either (being dishonest doesn't seem like a great trait to have!)

BUT I get that to be a VERY good leader I should live and breathe the role and I don't.

Well I was positioned for it not that long ago (in the grand scheme of things, I even have a paper trail!)

But yes, I find the role fairly 'limited" which is what my manager is saying. She'd be caging me long term.

What you have been given is a consolation prize, not an olive branch.

An olive branch is when someone makes the first approach to try to resolve a conflict.

Yes I call it a carrot/olive branch/consolation prize as it can be seen in all three ways IMO

I dont think you need to live and breathe a role to be a good leader, personally.

I think you need to understand what your new role actually entails, and see what you can make of it before getting too grumpy. We have a similar type of split at my work (business leading and people leading) and it took a bit of getting used to, but you can be very visible with a lot of impact in this kind of role. Try and make it work for you - for us, the business type roles are often more senior than the people management ones. Show what you can do with this role. And I don’t think people are often truly “promised” positions - that would have been unfair on anyone else wanting to apply for it. Work on the basis that they think you’ll be good at your new role and show them you can do it.

I think I can see why your colleague has the job they do…

You’re not the same poster that that posted something similar in October that your manager gave some choices to are you?

Maybe they're worried you have another "existential crisis". If you were managing people and that happened it wouldn't be fair on them, would it?

Youll always find someone willing to throw you under a bus to get that promotion they probably know is yours. Some people are vicious in the office. It is, sadly, each man for himself these days. I found that out to my detriment.

It sounds, to me, as if you have a very good job. Managing people can be an absolute pain.

The ‘global role’ sounds much better! Who wants to be managing people? And if you’re not great at process, it sounds a better job for you. Profile and superstardom in companies usually come from the amount of business you win, so you’re in a good position for that.

@saltinesandcoffeecups I was thinking this sounded familiar too, particularly the colleague exaggerating her workload.

@feelingstucktoday I've changed jobs twice in the last year as I didn't have the responsibility that I wanted. If I were you, I'd start the new role and use it as a jumping block to get a new job. You can start looking straight away but be really clear and what you want and what level you'd like to be at.