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Asking to lead team /how to make it non confrontational

3 replies

BlooberryBiskits · 30/04/2022 20:24

Hi All

would love some advice about how to advocate for myself but come off reasonably (& get what I want of course 😊)

My situation: I joined a new company 3 months ago, it was a new organisation set up a few months ago, so my functional has 3 new employees, me based in UK & 2 others based in our other office (HQ on the continent). Team of 3 are all same level in org structure, but I’m massively more experienced (20 years vs 11 & 7 years on our industry for the other 2), & also have a more relevant skill set plus experience of managing a team which others do not have

About 3 weeks into role I got Covid & was out for a few weeks, now fully back into my work and I seem to be taking on more & more of the responsibilities of another team member: redoing her work, coaching her etc. This week my boss directly asked me to take a chunk (possibly 1/2 - 1/3 of her work) on - making my job bigger & hers less. Meanwhile, still talking about the structure being seen by others as a ‘panel of 3 experts’ but that the difference is clear to her/others. My boss has made comments that ‘you are the company’s strongest hitter’ (in this function) ‘ ‘why should you hide your light under a bushel’ etc

However, this request to take on more responsibility has come without talk of more pay/promotion etc (I had originally asked to be ‘Head of’ my function; company has given me a different title & other 2 are managers

Its becoming increasingly clear that I will be leading the team to deliver, to compensate for unequal experience. I think it’s only fair to make that official before I take on the responsibility, ‘ take on more work, coaching etc

I was thinking of asking for: a different title (still short of ‘Head Of’), clear leadership of the team, & for other 2 to have a dotted line to me. Also to lead budget, team way of working etc (I’m already driving some of this)

AIBU in thinking giving me half of someone else’s job because they don’t have the skills is just a cheek?? Because I’m v new I don’t want to come off as confrontational, but I think if I just accept the additional responsibilities without recognition I’m being a mug … wondering how best to pitch this to my boss/how others have done this.

Was thinking of asking for title & official recognition of responsibility 1st, pay to be reviewed at end of year in normal cycle

Any suggestions on how I go about this? I was definitely planning to say to my boss I won’t start the new responsibilities until a discussion has been had (I’ve mapped out the work & it doesn’t need to start for another 2-3 weeks)

Any other thoughts?

TL/DR - new team, me & 2 others. I’m way more experienced so am going to end up leading: how can I make sure I get the title/recognition/pay - without getting backs up? Tips for navigating the conversation pls ?

OP posts:
CantHaveTooMuchChocolate · 02/05/2022 11:30

Sounds like you need a discussion with your boss to clarify what your role and responsibilities are now compared to previously, are you being asked to do more of the same work, or take on more responsibility e.g. leadership, budgeting, mentoring etc that wasn’t part of your original job description?

if you’re just being asked to do more volume to cover for another employees failings then that’s unfair, if you’re taking on more responsibility than your JD then it’s a step up and you want to discuss this with your boss around having a new job title and JD to reflect this. I’d then be looking for your salary to be increased in line with this at your next review, and also worth discussing back pay for this if possible. Good luck!

BlooberryBiskits · 04/05/2022 10:24

Thank you @CantHaveTooMuchChocolate

The additional volume is definitely related to other employee’s failings (so unfair). The stepping up is more being driven by me, but I see the business requires it …

I was all geared up to discuss this with my boss yesterday, but she was unexpectedly off! I am planning to meet the other employee’s boss (who is based in another country) on Monday which I think might help me understand the lie of the land a bit more

OP posts:
CantHaveTooMuchChocolate · 16/05/2022 20:33

BlooberryBiskits · 04/05/2022 10:24

Thank you @CantHaveTooMuchChocolate

The additional volume is definitely related to other employee’s failings (so unfair). The stepping up is more being driven by me, but I see the business requires it …

I was all geared up to discuss this with my boss yesterday, but she was unexpectedly off! I am planning to meet the other employee’s boss (who is based in another country) on Monday which I think might help me understand the lie of the land a bit more

No problem @BlooberryBiskits sorry for the late reply, new contract here myself last week. Hope your chat with the managers went well and you’ve had a good resolution.

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