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Advice needed with restructure issue

2 replies

Blueberrywitch · 27/07/2022 14:33

Wondering if I can get some insight into this. I am 6 months into a new role, it is a specialist role and I am the only person in the company managing the topic. I have been within the comms team, with the head of comms being my line manager.

This person has resigned and we have had a quick conversation just now where the director of the department has said my current colleague, same level as me and also a different specialist comma role will be my line manager and other people in our team transferred to different teams under the director.

The new line manager is a great guy and I know he will be supportive, it just feels a bit like a demotion for me, because my old manager was the head of our department and more senior - whereas now my manager will be just a manager of a different specialist function?

I’m new (he’s only been there a year longer) so in some ways I feel like I should just accept this. I know we will work together well and he will be supportive in the day to day elements of my role, and I will closely interact with the team director anyway

I’m just wondering if I’m missing a trick and should put in a request to report directly to the team director/some other department - eg I could equally work with/report to head of HR.

Or is there some other request to make, like a request for horizontal management?

I’m not experienced with big corporates and just wonder if I don’t act now if I’m doing myself a disservice in terms of jostling myself up the pecking order when I had the chance.

as an aside, it was a 15 mins teams call with no warning, I really feel that the director should have chatted to me about my thoughts first! No consultation whatsoever! Maybe that’s normal though.

Or do I just remain enthusiastic, see how it goes and address any issues later down the line once I’m more established?

OP posts:
User23072 · 27/07/2022 23:00

I wouldn't make an issue out of it. Like you said, you're new. 6 months into a job is not a great time to be making demands. He's been there a year and a half, so naturally, they've gone with the more experienced candidate out of the two of you. Plus, if you work well with him then it shouldn't be an issue.

season2 · 29/07/2022 14:48

Big corporates will often have succession plans so your new manager may have been in the wings already. You also don't get to choose who your boss is. I suggest if you raise it with anyone, it will be a career limiting move and you'll without a doubt be denied.

If you're ambitious then you're best off, doing your job to the best of your ability and letting your new boss know your future career goals when it's time for reviews.

Promotion is not directly correlated with tenure with a company but rather how you perform. If you are a star, you'll also get noticed and when an opportunity arises you you will be in a good position to apply.

Most big corporates will be supportive of career progression as long as you perform well.

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