Out of depth at work

[knor]

I feel very out of my depth in my new role at work. I’ve only been in the job a few months (it’s a promotion) but I constantly feel like I don’t know what I’m doing and am on the edge.

All the managers above me don’t seem to know my role either (and not a trainable role really) so I really have no where to turn to and no one to ask. And I feel if I share my worries, higher management will regret giving me the role as I was a bit of a rogue choice if that makes sense.

One of my main motivations to apply for the role was more money as I wasn’t making enough before but now I’m wondering if it was worth it as I was in my old role for 8+ years and knew it inside and out and felt so much more comfortable.

I feel stressed all the time at work, worry about mistakes I make (not massive mistakes, just not doing the right thing/process/passing the client over to the right person/team) and I have massive imposter syndrome that I just can’t shake.

I'm constantly worried people think I’m crap at my job or incompetent and everyday there feels like a new thing I don’t know. I know it’s normal to feel like this in a new job but I just can’t stand it. Not really sure where to go from here or if there’s anything to say just wanted to rant

Please ignore the username (this is not relevant to my current post!!)

I had a very very similar situation. A new role was created, I got the job and started and.. had no idea what I was doing. My job description was fluffy at best and no one had done the role before so I had no idea where I could start.

I felt hugely like an imposter, like I'd be caught out imminently. I did what I could and asked questions to likely entirely the wrong people 100 times but I got there. I am now confident and competent and absolutely love my new job. Something still comes across every now and then where I think "oh god, I've no clue!" But all the scary processes that had me overthinking every email soon became second nature.

It's so hard coming out of a total comfort zone to the opposite and the only advice I have is to keep going. Every day you'll learn something to file away and things will get easier. I promise!

Chill, if your managers have given you a promotion into a new role and haven't adequately defined the role then they can hardly fire you for not fulfilling it.

I think you need to do everything that you can to take steps to problem-solving that are "reasonable" in the circumstances that you are facing - that is, hard to criticise for being obviously wrong. When you forward a problem to someone else you could try asking if they are the right person to deal with this. Over time your reactions will change based on the experience you gain, and you will also gain confidence.

Generally, people are reasonable and inclined to be helpful (IMO). With over 30 years management experience, this week I passed on queries in a tender to two different people in QA/QC and HR, and they both did what they could and forwarded to someone else (the same person), who promptly responded.

It’s hard to advise without more detail. I would generically suggest asking for feedback, both from your manager and from peers who you work with . Do you have internal clients?

if your company has a feedback process use that. If not make a simple feedback form yourself and send it out. Ask for feedback on what you are doing well (because there will be things, and that will give you a boost) and where you could be doing “even better” (which will
encourage constructive feedback).

Normally I’d suggest researching training and asking your manager for more support, or to buddy with someone doing similar role, but sounds like that might not work here.

It sounds like the problem is more knowing processes and procedures and “how things work around here” than skills or knowledge? If so are those processes documented? If not I’d start doing that - document each process and ask the people involved to check it and sign off on it. Build up your own manual basically on how to do the job.

defining your own role is scary but rewarding. Embrace that you get to really make this your own. Remember even people who’ve been doing a role from yonks make mistakes

good luck!

Here's an imposter syndrome attack plan, OP.

Do you have a job description? If you do, you could expand it by breaking down each responsibility to 8 - 10 subtasks. You would be able to use it as a discussion document with your managers and amplify/amend, and also as a checklist for you by making it into a table and marking your level of confidence in your ability to carry out each subtask eg Red - not at all confident Amber - a bit confident Green - totally confident. Updated every month, it would give you a sense of momentum in getting to grips with your new role. If you don't have a JD, you could draft one. Your managers, if they are sensible, will see you taking ownership and initiative 😊