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Original poster

To steal someones job

71 replies

thejobsnatcher · 30/07/2023 11:46

Thread title for views, but some truth in it!
I'm an ambitious retail director; good at what I do, and my stores outperform all others in the business.
Another retail director is also good at their job, not madly ambitious or creative but gets the job done. They have a store that I want. It's a big one, has huge potential, isn't being marketed particularly well, and could be much more profitable.
I think the board would prefer I have this store as I am frequently asked for my views on big decisions about it and strategic questions I ask trigger wider meetings and activity.
I have a yearly review coming up and I want to ask for the store. It would challenge, excite and motivate me, and open up a pathway to a bigger salary. I know the business values me and I could probably 'demand' it to stay. The other RD would not be demoted or lose salary or potential earnings but would lose team members and would need to backfill projects/stores from my side, and generally, it would be quite humiliating (probably too strong a word but you get the idea).
It feels a bit cut throat. I'm not immediately comfortable with the idea of hurting this person and also giving the board this massive headache. What would you do? And how should I approach it?

OP posts:
calmcoco · 30/07/2023 11:50

It depends what type of person you are, you have to be honest with yourself.

I would not ask for a colleague's portfolio, I think that is shitty behaviour. You're cherrypicking the best bits, not team playing.

I'd state I want more opportunity/responsibility and leave that with them to consider.

SwedishEdith · 30/07/2023 11:56

Would people want to work with you if you did this?

swanling · 30/07/2023 11:58

It would be a good way to alienate people.

It wouldn't be compatible with my personal ethics.

Original poster
thejobsnatcher · 30/07/2023 12:07

SwedishEdith · 30/07/2023 11:56

Would people want to work with you if you did this?

Nobody would know that I'd instigated it. It would probably be packaged as an opportunity for the other FD which is how they have previously dealt with this kind of thing. I know they wouldn't want to lose this person, so would be looking to make it as positive as possible.

People would know though and aren't silly.

I have a solid reputation in the business and I know (it's been said in not so many words) that the managers at the store in question want me and my team on it.

Doesn't change the fact it's taking from another, and I'm struggling with that.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 30/07/2023 12:11

I would do it and wouldn’t feel bad about it, if they were as good/ better than you it wouldn’t be possible.
However, if it’s going to make you feel bad about yourself then don’t

HarrietJet · 30/07/2023 12:13

I think the board would prefer I have this store
And yet they've never offered it to you.

HundredMilesAnHour · 30/07/2023 12:15

I think it would be morally and ethically questionable. Not something I would - or could - do personally.

Hawkins0001 · 30/07/2023 12:17

thejobsnatcher · 30/07/2023 11:46

Thread title for views, but some truth in it!
I'm an ambitious retail director; good at what I do, and my stores outperform all others in the business.
Another retail director is also good at their job, not madly ambitious or creative but gets the job done. They have a store that I want. It's a big one, has huge potential, isn't being marketed particularly well, and could be much more profitable.
I think the board would prefer I have this store as I am frequently asked for my views on big decisions about it and strategic questions I ask trigger wider meetings and activity.
I have a yearly review coming up and I want to ask for the store. It would challenge, excite and motivate me, and open up a pathway to a bigger salary. I know the business values me and I could probably 'demand' it to stay. The other RD would not be demoted or lose salary or potential earnings but would lose team members and would need to backfill projects/stores from my side, and generally, it would be quite humiliating (probably too strong a word but you get the idea).
It feels a bit cut throat. I'm not immediately comfortable with the idea of hurting this person and also giving the board this massive headache. What would you do? And how should I approach it?

Personally be happy with the lot you have.
Yes I understand the potential but at the moment if you did acquire it and the whole project fell apart then you'll be worse off,
That said I know don't try don't gain etc.
But overall I'd hold off for now.
@thejobsnatcher

FloofCloud · 30/07/2023 12:19

I think you should look for another job and not try to steal someone else's job. Morally and ethically questionable and pretty low, imagine if someone did this to you and how you would feel?

Original poster
thejobsnatcher · 30/07/2023 12:19

HarrietJet · 30/07/2023 12:13

I think the board would prefer I have this store
And yet they've never offered it to you.

No, for the reasons I've given above. Its potential is not being realised but its not underperforming. And they will have a massive headache with all that comes with removing it from the other RD's portfolio. So instead they ask my view on the big decisions and generally lean on me for guidance on it.

OP posts:
Hawkins0001 · 30/07/2023 12:19

thejobsnatcher · 30/07/2023 12:07

Nobody would know that I'd instigated it. It would probably be packaged as an opportunity for the other FD which is how they have previously dealt with this kind of thing. I know they wouldn't want to lose this person, so would be looking to make it as positive as possible.

People would know though and aren't silly.

I have a solid reputation in the business and I know (it's been said in not so many words) that the managers at the store in question want me and my team on it.

Doesn't change the fact it's taking from another, and I'm struggling with that.

Show quote history

A solid reputation can easily be a soiled reputation especially if you get stuck with it all.

Hawkins0001 · 30/07/2023 12:20

thejobsnatcher · 30/07/2023 12:19

No, for the reasons I've given above. Its potential is not being realised but its not underperforming. And they will have a massive headache with all that comes with removing it from the other RD's portfolio. So instead they ask my view on the big decisions and generally lean on me for guidance on it.

Show quote history

What if that's how they want to make the play, they want your advice and input but don't actually want you in charge even though it appears that they do want you

DumboDumbell · 30/07/2023 12:22

Well, if you were a man, what would you do? Probably, ask directly for what you want.

However, given everything you said, I'd be more wondering why they haven't yet offered it to you.

Because you've basically outlined a long list of reasons why, to your bosses, this is a very obvious decision. So either you are labouring under a misapprehension - or there's something else going on. I'd be using your review to get to the bottom of that and be asking more open questions around how they consider you can get the stretch/development you need. They may have something else in mind.

caerdydd12 · 30/07/2023 12:22

If the board wanted you to have this store they'd have offered it already. By all means do whatever you need to do but don't be naive enough to think nobody will find out.

DaisyThistle · 30/07/2023 12:22

Many successful people would ask. I am not one of them. I do have my eye on colleagues' jobs occasionally but would never dream of muscling in or doing a Machiavellian takeover. I'm just good at my job and say yes if asked. If there's anm opening, I'll go for it, but I'd never oust someone else.

Can you get the pleasure of improving the store without being so cut throat? Could you ask to mentor the manager and come in as a consultant on a set fee or timescale?

dottiedodah · 30/07/2023 12:22

I would be uncomfortable with this TBH. It seems a bit cut throat to me.Surely the board would have offered it to you by now as HarrietJet points out. Also maybe there are other reasons location ,footfall and so on.You sound driven and ambitious but if you were to take it on it may prove difficult and you risk upsetting people

WaitingfortheTardis · 30/07/2023 12:23

Personally I wouldn't do it, but we don't sound similar so you need to decide what you want to do. I value good people, not those who will push others aside, therefore if I was on the board when you asked this I would not only not go along with it, but I'd feel very differently about you and your place in the company.

topnoddy · 30/07/2023 12:30

If they employ someone else why do they keep consulting you for advice ?

Chewbecca · 30/07/2023 12:31

I would be clear at the review that I was open, ready and keen for a bigger role but I would not suggest taking over someone else's store.

I think it makes you look like someone who is prepared to piss all over decent colleagues and my perfect employee would not have that trait, they would support and encourage and try to retain strong team members.

You think this move demonstrates your strengths, I think it shows your weaknesses.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 30/07/2023 12:31

I wouldn't demand it, but I would say I saw it as an ideal opportunity for development and progression. If they wring their hands and say 'oh, but we can't offer x a different role', that's disappointing, so how else can they facilitate your progression within the company? Maybe there are other opportunities greater than that which a nudge could put you top of the list for?

After all, knowing that you are not content to stagnate where you are makes it a very real possibility that you might start looking at what a competitor could offer you. And it's a far more civilised way to behave where you're encouraging them to recognise the benefits of making it worth your while to stay, rather than stamping your feet and raging 'Pick Me! She's crap! Pick Me!' like one of those shiny suited twonks on The Apprentice.

Your mistake might be focusing on just another store as a prize, rather than something beyond that.

Iamgoingtohell · 30/07/2023 12:36

Do it. Ignore the morals and ethics and put yourself first. Life is too short

ladyinthecampervan · 30/07/2023 12:36

I’d personally tackle it differently.
So the store could perform better and you could offer some great ideas on how to achieve that….
Could you offer to mentor the other manger or to lead some strategy sessions that lips at a number of under performing stores (including that one) and engineer yourself a lead role in bringing in improvements?

That way you’re collaborating with rather than undermining your colleague, moving yourself into a more strategic position and you’ve got the opportunity to use the best of your skills along with the best of yours to make both your stores perform even better.

ladyinthecampervan · 30/07/2023 12:37

*looks at
(not lips)

MyOtherCarisAFerrari · 30/07/2023 12:38

I'm not sure how many PP here work in big business, but I do. What you are describing is not unusual. Especially at director level.
However, the problem here is not that you want 'her' job. It's that you are essentially doing her job as well as yours. It seems embarrassing and humiliating for someone at her level to have her decisions 'run by' a peer, like a junior employee.

With that in mind, have an informal chat with senior people about what can be done. Of course don't say that you want her job! Say that you have been helping out in a 'friendly chat' way, point out the benefits of your advice and ask how this can be formalised. You don't have to put her out of your job - they might even create a role with you above her, for example, or an 'org strategy' role.

The hidden danger in doing what you currently are is that any bad outcome from your advice can easily be blamed on you. Any good outcome, the current retail manager will take the credit.

Whatever you decide make sure you get the credit. The number one reason women don't get promoted is because we don't blow our own trumpets, and worry too much about ethics and morality. Good on you for wanting adequate reward for your work.

MyOtherCarisAFerrari · 30/07/2023 12:39

*put her out of HER job