How do I voice my concerns without coming across as a bitch?

[TigerFeet]

The department in which I work is being restructured and I will soon have a new boss. I'm not sure whether this new boss will be an internal or external appointment (tbh I'm don't think this decision has been made yet) as it is a new role that's being created.

There is, on the face of it, a good internal candidate for the position - she is already doing some of the job and it wouldn't be too difficult in theory to absorb the management of my role into what she does already.

The problem is, I think she is crap at her job. Don't get me wrong, I like her, but being nice doesn't make you a good manager or knowledgable in your field (for instance I know I'm a terrible manager and have no intention of managing a team ever again, I hated it). She was originally taken on to do a different role which made use of her previous experience but ended up managing the team I will become a part of as there was no one else available to do it at the time. I feel a bit sorry for her in that she has been thrust into a position that she hasn't any experience or knowledge of but at the end of the day the field I work in means that I would prefer my manager to have some understanding of what mine and my colleagues' roles entail, but even 6 months down the line I still find myself explaining the same things over and over again - she just doesn't get it at all.

I have a meeting this afternoon with our department head who will be the immediate manager of this new manager to discuss the reorganisation of the department and how I will fit into the new structure.

I would really like to voice my concerns about this person's unsuitability for this new management position but I don't want to come across as a complete and utter cow.

I have discussed it already with a colleague who does the same job as me and so obviously will also be affected by the change - he hasn't been here very long and is also new to the job and he thinks I'm not giving her a chance. Thing is, he's been here for a far shorter time and already has a more thorough grasp of what goes on than she does. He appreciates I have a genuine concern and I'm not being bitchy but thinks I will come across as a backstabber if I say anything.

She might not even be on the short list for the job.

Arrghhhhh what shall I say????

Do you not think that your bosses will eventually realise that she isn't capable without you telling them and looking like a cow?

It's entirely possible avenanap, I would hope so anyway. I just think it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to get someone else to do it who could do it well from the start. I think we will have to recruit externally anyway as someone would have to do the job that she was originally taken on to do if she were to do this new management role.

I really don't want to work for her, it's such hard work getting her to understand at times. If she wasn't lovely otherwise then it would be so much easier...

Can you ask at the meeting if they are looking to employ anyone internally and test the water?
If they mention her then you could perhaps say something then?
Or ask the lady herself casually in the staff room/kitchen - 'so are you going for this job then?' and see what she says... she might know shes not great at management and have no intention of going for it...

Can you ask in your meeting whether they have a shortlist, and if your opinion would be welcome on any potential internal candidates. I suppose then the worst they can say is 'no', and it gives you the opportunity to display that you have an opnion without coming out and saying anything about this person specifically, unless you're invited to.

x post!

If they are recruiting externally aswell then they may find someone who is better qualified. It wouldn't look very good for you if you dropped her in it. Is there anyone you trust higher up whom you could have a discreat(sp?) chat to?

It doesn't matter if she's lovely, if you are carrying her then that makes things harder.

I will ask about the recruitment and whether there are already candidates. Hopefully her name won't be mentioned!

She would be carried to a large extent imo. She has been slow to pick up the basics of what she's doing now and I dread to think how she will handle new work when she's struggling with what she does already. She seems to lack the ability to think things through herself and make common sense judgements - pretty essential for a manager I would have thought but I know there are plenty of managers out there who have the same problem!

I pretty much manage myself to a large extent but it is nice to be able to go to my (current) boss and clarify things or ask an opinion. He's being moved to a different department. He's not necessarily a great manager either but at least has the knowledge base needed and the ability to reach sensible decisions (ie he agrees with me a lot of the time )

A good thing about this restructure is that it will allow me to drop my hours, I am hoping to find out at this meeting today what hours I will be doing, so it's not all bad

I think offering opinions about colleagues and their suitability for jobs isn't really on unless it's asked for. As you've said, you don't know if she's even shortlisted yet, and you are also assuming that the people who make the appointment aren't able to assess the performance of someone in post.

She may be on the shortlist and she may have successfully hoodwinked her boss into thinking she's good, but you don't know that at all.

Fine to ask how recruitment is progressing, whether they have a shortlist (not who's on it) and whether input of the team into the recruitment process would be welcome.

I don't think you should be giving your opinion on people's suitability for a post if you haven't been asked for it.

OK thanks everyone

I will ask if there is a shortlist but not who's on it

I will keep my mouth shut about suitablilty unless asked directly

Thanks for your inoput