Vulnerable when changing role

[Alicethecamelhas]

Hi everyone - I'm wondering if there is anyone around who can give me some advice? Preferably from an agency background? I'm changing my role at work, I'm in a senior position, but I'm shifting slightly to a different role - responsible for new biz / creativity etc. I've been given a new job description, and I'm just now realising how I'm putting myself into a more vulnerable position - and thinking how disposable I might be. I do want to do this role, and in truth I'm unhappy in the role I'm in now, but I'm unsure how to protect myself. Does anyone have any advice? Thoughts? Sorry this is probably very vague.

Can I be clear - because I think I read this to say that you are actually an agency worker placed in a business? If that is true, I am sorry to tell you that you have always been, and will always be, disposable. That is the point of agency workers. If that isn't the case you will have to explain the reference to agency working, because agency workers aren't directly employed by the "employer" (who is actually a client of the agency).

Ah no sorry, I'm senior within an agency, as in a creative agency.

Agency as in consultancy.

OK - so if this helps.... It is a newly created role that I would be stepping into, designed for me.

I've been senior in a comms agency (now in house) so I get what you mean.

In my experience the specialists' (creatives, digital gurus, whatever) vulnerability was more directly linked to their performance than the general account handlers.

The brilliant specialists added the sparkle that got us new business, and were invaluable. The more average ones were easier to see as a nice-to-have overhead and so could be cut.

Mediocre account handlers can stick around because client X loved them or they know all the complicated stuff about client Y.

I realise that's not really an answer...

Thanks @CarrotCakeSupprise, yes that's it, there is an added vulnerability in there isn't there. So it's down to me I guess! I suppose my problem is quite complex, I also think the role being drafted isn't quite right for me, I'm not really a specialist in it, some areas are those I yearn to do, but others they are trying to force fit into it aren't right for me, so therefore I will probably fail.

If you're responsible for new business then your performance (or not) will be very measurable, which can be a good or bad thing.

Realistically if the role has been designed for you and you're moving, the best way to protect yourself is to do a good job (easier said than done of course), which might mean more work.and more training for a bit. Also don't forgot the human element. Learn from people who are good at the bits of the job you can't do yet, either internally or via your network, latch onto any training and don't forget to build a good relationship with your new leader - find out what good looks like to them, and what was the missing element that made them think your new role was a good idea.

Also keep in mind that if you've been there a while, even if you were unfortunately let go then presumably you would get a decent redundancy package, depending on how your agency runs it. Hopefully you'd never have to find out, but at least you've then got a bit of a cushion in case.

I'm feeling a bit doom and gloom about the whole thing at the moment, I feel as though I'm being rushed into signing off on a job description that just isn't feasible for one human being to do. It's sort of trying to cram two different Director roles in there, and a team, all for just me, with no guarantee on what budget I would have to do the work either.