Three month handover period is feeling so stifling, how to cope

[losingthewilltolivenow]

I've been appointed to a management in role in fairly small service.

When the job was advertised it said there'd be three month handover with the current incumbent which I found unusual and if I'm honest a bit odd but thought the job was worth giving a go.

I'm a month in an like the job, also really like the current manager who I am taking over from.

However, there is absolutely no scope for me to change anything at the moment. I can see how processes could be made more efficient and have lots of ideas for growing the service.

Every suggestion I make is shot down by the current manager with a reason for why I can't do it (I'm talking basic stuff like using excel for databases rather than printing out paper and storing it in files).

I thought I was dealing ok with it because ultimately - once the job is mine and I can do it how I would like to - I think it will be great.

I am honestly not sure that I can cope with two more months of this though.

Has anyone been in this situation?

My new line manager is great and obviously recognises the awkwardness of the situation and it seems to be a case of biding our time for the next two months.

How do I get through them 😃

Do you have staff that you're managing? If so, I would recommend spending the three months getting to know them and how they work best as individuals rather than focussing on the processes.

Managers who come in and change everything tend to get a lot of push back. Once you've built up the trust, you can work with the team to make changes

Sounds harsh but time to start bypassing them a bit. Set up meetings with your new manager about the changes you are implementing and then start doing it.

The manager leaving will feel a bit put out by all your changes and efficiencies, as it will make them feel a bit useless. Just keep giving them compliments and asking their advice etc to try and keep the relationship sweet.

Maybe try and do one thing at a time and involve them as little as possible. 3m is a very long time.

Thanks, the team seem great and wouldn't be affected by any of the changes I can see would make the service more efficient.

At the moment 80% of the role is taken up with admin which is really getting me down. It's a professional management role which I've been employed to do because of my training (masters degree) and I'm shunting around bits of paper most of the day.

Admin isn't actually part of my skill set (im pretty rubbish at it) and wasn't in the JD but the role is currently being managed this way.

I of course don't mind mucking in with admin but I need to do it in a way that makes sense to me.

Also sorry to drip feed but I have a disability which means I need to work with computers not paper.

I've never disclosed it in a previous workplace as I've never needed to as everywhere I've worked uses computers.

I'm literally melting down trying to navigate this paper based system and I've tried to explain to her that it's really hard for me to work with things as they are but she can't seem to see my POV at all and just says paper is better and she doesn't trust computers.

I don't want to tell her about my disability , or my line manager really but this is making my job incredibly hard.

Hopeful bump

Have you made a plan with your handover person about how they're going to transfer the work? Can you do it in chunks so you start overhauling things in your own way already? Otherwise I think getting to know your team is a great idea.

No, there's no plan other than I do it her way until the day she leaves.

I can definitely spend time getting to know the team, though.

If you’ve learned all you need to know about the business and how it works just tell your line manager that you are now good to go and ask her to put the former manager on garden leave for the rest of their notice period?

Sounds ridiculous. I’d start pointing out that it’s your role now and changes will be made asap!

@losingthewilltolivenow I feel for you, there is probably a good reason for 3 months hand over e.g. things that happen quarterly.

I agree with pp about getting to know your staff but also asking them for input and testing out ideas for the “to be” processes you are considering. Getting their buy in now will help the changes.

I would identify a discrete area you can take full responsibility for now and suggest you take over from 1 October and implement your changes. Even just one area will help you, start the change process for the team and help the person leaving to let go.

I know this is easier to type than to do, talk to your (and their) manager and ask them to put in writing (cc to the current Co-manager) that they are giving you an objective to digitise (task) by 1 November. In this sort of case I would draft the email and get your manager to send it.

The other option is to find business objectives/ policies that support streamlining of processes using IT to achieve efficiencies. You can link what you are proposing to these.

The trick is to make it clear you implementing Excel etc. is what the business/ your manager wants.

I had a 2 month, painful handover period when I started my current job. I couldn't wait for her to leave - I could see all the problems but had no scope to change anything. I nodded and smiled my way through it and made a lot of notes!

This is not the time to try and change anything. Bide you time and spend the handover getting to know the people you'll be responsible for. Nod, smile, do things as they are and make plans for what you want to implement and how. I bet if you have some good quality conversations you'll actually find some of them suggest the changes you want without prompting, particularly if it's about being more digital.

Agreeing an actual handover date is a good idea. Three months is a loooong time!!

I'd much rather start a job in a vacant post.

@losingthewilltolivenow can you take some leave? I’d sound your boss out about it.

maybe think up a reason rather than just holiday? Do you ‘need to visit your parents’ to help them with something, for example?

id try to come up with something and pitch it to my new boss as ‘well I could take it later but while we are both here it would be much less disruptive’.

that would shorten it and break it up a bit.

are there any other sites you need to visit? YY to long one to ones with every person in your new team.

are you sure the outgoing person doesn’t have leave to take?

eorher way you’ll probably get covid in November, won’t THAT be a shame…

Thanks all, some good suggestions. I don't really want to take leave as I need it for DC school holidays (he's in primary).

There is an area I can ask to develop which I can ask to be given over to me. I don't think the current manager will be happy with that, but equally it's a high risk area that is a dealbreaker for me if I'm not allowed to run it properly.

Name change fail op

Thanks 😊 it's no problem 😉

Half term is coming up though? Ask to take that week off - great wholesome reason!