Started new job, boss too busy to show me the ropes

[Metabigot]

Started a new job which is a step up for me. Also a different industry, but they specifically wanted candidates from a different industry to give fresh blood/perspective.

I've been there 2 weeks and my boss comes across as too busy to check in with me or see how I'm doing. I'm experienced in my profession but they do everything differently here! So even things I've done before in previous roles I'm having to learn a whole new way.

Seems I'm just expected after the initial week of meet and greets and elearning to just get on with it. Boss handed a project to me today, in a team meeting, saying she was busy the rest of the week. She's on leave next week. It's a fairly rapid timescale, will need to be delivered in 2 weeks.

Its a mid-senior role, am I expected to just roll my sleeves up and not check in with her? I can approach my team to support/ show me the ropes but that feels the wrong way round.

I can do the project 'my' way as have experience, but I'm not familiar with their way of doing things so wtf do I do? I feel like I need to call on my team to help me out, they are supposed to provide support but not lead, will that make me look like a weak manager? Seems the lesser if w evils right now.... ( as opposed to getting it wrong/ not doing it at all)

I would schedule a meeting with your boss this week pronto before they go off on leave to make sure you understand what you need to do, and more importantly what they expect of you.

Would seek info on expectations then just crack on as best you can. Are the team members supposed to be contributing to the project? If so it’s fair enough to rely on them for some things, eg processes and who’s who.

would also try to network to find some peers

She's already said she's busy every day... she's on an away day weds and Fri so I know she's unavailable then.

I'm thinking to email her after I've done some work/ getting my head round it tomorrow saying I'm planning to do xyz is that in line with what you were expecting?

I'm not happy as she barely checked in with my last week I approached her myself a couple of times and she did get back to me but it's not how I'd treat a newbie.

This is a step up for me so is it usual to be left to your own devices more when more senior ? I wouldn't mind if she'd handed the piece of work over more clearly with expectations in writing etc but it was very on the hoof.

Yes one team member in particular is supporting and I've booked some time with him to review.

He seems very friendly and I'm sure won't mind showing me the ropes but it makes me feel slightly undermined as his line manager, should it?

Not really, if he’s professional etc he’ll understand and know that there’s stuff a new colleague won’t know. And it’ll give him an opportunity to show what he knows and can do.

perhaps seek contacts outside your direct line management to pick up some know how and gossip about how the place works.

Fuck it, have sent email asking for clarity. This is stressful.

Have you got someone you report to / can ask for advice in your manager's absence?
She should nominate someone - it's the least she can do!
You could Email and ask for clarification.

Good idea to email - then there's a record of you asking for advice if it all goes tits up - I'm sure it won't come to this of corse, but you have been left in the lurch and should safeguard yourself from any future possible flak as best you can.

Boss has not replied to my email asking for clarity. I know I should be doing something proactive but I'm just sitting at my laptop staring into space going 'waaaaa'...

I'm going to have to ask my team to help me out I think.

I've been in a similar position OP. The approach I took was to share my plans with the teams, and ask for their input, and they actually appreciated it as their previous team lead didn't involve them in his projects/planning.

So maybe explain your usual approach with your team saying ' this is how I would normally approach this sort of project, but I appreciate you may do things differently here, I'd appreciate your input to help me learn'

I think it would be a good way of building rapport with your team as well as ensuring you're on the right track, whilst making it clear you're the lead.

I think it's appalling that your manager has no time for you.

Thanks - I have set up some time today and tomorrow with one of my team who has been assigned to this project.

I also think it's appalling - she's not once asked me how I'm finding things or what I need, just downloaded a load of work that needs to be done on things I know nothing about. I wouldn't mind too much if this was a like for like role to what i've done previously but they specifically wanted candidates from a different industry sector and it was abundantly clear that I am new to this sector at interview stage.

I honestly have no idea if I'll even have any contact with her before the bank holiday now. I can make the effort to contact her if I'm desperate but I feel like 'why should I be the one to be banging on her door' . oh yes - my monthly salary, that's why.

Luckily the team member is fairly experienced and as you say it will offer a good opportunity to engage and interact.

Do you know whether any of your team applied for your job?

No, it was vacant for ages but I don't think anyone applied for it. I think I would have been told that if it had happened.
Team are lovely, boss just seems too busy to be bothering with me which is fine if she sets her expectations and just puts a few catch ups in the diary but I'm not even sure if I'll have any contact with her this week.
This is the most senior role i've ever had (sub director level) so I'm not sure whether there is an expection not to be 'looked after' so much at this level but if I don't know what I'm doing I'm hardly going to be getting off on the best footing.

I suppose on the plus side, once I have settled into the role she won't be a micro manager?

For the level you describe, I would expect that you would be getting on with it and certainly wouldn’t expect to be “shown the ropes” by your boss. I would have expected the boss to have had a one to one with you though, maybe tell you which people you need to introduce yourself to and set some priorities. I am perhaps a similar level and haven’t had a hand over or been shown the ropes in any job I have occupied since 2005 (when I was mid 30s if that gives a very rough idea of how many years I might have been in the workforce).

There is absolutely nothing wrong with expecting people that report to educate you on what they are doing, their deliverables, deadlines, processes etc. In fact meeting with each for them to take me through what they are working on would be something of a priority for me.

I wouldn’t email boss to ask what for clarity on what you should be working on, but requesting a meeting is very reasonable.

I am fairly new into a new role, with a busy boss and with lots to learn.

My tips would be:

• ask for 30mins a week with your manager, ahead of that make a brief list of topics you want to cover and mark the most important ones, so you can get the most out of that 30mins. Make your questions specific so that you (hopefully) get specific answers. One of the most importnant and useful might be to ask what your objectives are and what you need you be doing to achieve in this role.
• ask the people you've already met who else it might be useful for you to meet and get an overview from. Often in those meetings, they might mention a process or a way of working or someone else - make a note of it then task yourself with finding out more afterwards. e.g. if they mention Tracy in procurement who helps them with ordering supplies then make a note to get 20mins with Tracy to find out an overview of her role. It really helps build up the picture of how it all works and helps you build up contacts more quickly
• make a tonne of notes. I prefer to handwrite them then type them up at the end of each day: going over everything I've been told like this helps consolidate it in my mind
• ditto, everytime someone mentions a system or phrase you don't know then ask them about it and research it more afterwards.
• it is perfectly OK to ask your direct reports how things are done there; if they are halfway decent they will appreciate you taking the time to learn and be grateful for the chance to get to know you a bit better and to feel valued by you

Thanks -really helpful.

What info sharing/project management system do they use? I'd expect to be making stuff available for review by boss/team, and asking for feedback.

The issue is more that I haven't been given a clear brief on what my involvement is - boss was doing it, team member supporting but now she wants me to be involved but hasn't said what/how etc.

I can do this kind of work no problem but I need to know a) what the expectations are - am I now leading? Supporting her? what's my remit etc and

b) how they do things here as whilst I am experienced in this area of work there are cultural/industry sector nuances which are new to me

Not happy with having it just dumped on me in a team meeting with no clarity of expectations or opportunity to check this and now she's off for the rest of the week and then on hols but hey ho.

I mean I could just do it the way I've been trained but then I'll get 'that's not the way we do it here'

I would take it your leading and do it your way. Yes, you may get feedback but at this level you are supposed to get on with it.