Unusual Discussion (for me)....

[KaraBoo]

I wanted to post this earlier, but wasn't able to while at work....

My boss confided in me that the biggest reason she hired me (transfer from within our company) was that she was hoping I would take her place (director position) when she retires in 4-6 years. She plans on grooming me into the position and spending the next several years assisting me in the necessary steps/training to take over when the time comes.

While I'm honored that she feels this way - I'm not sure how I feel about this. To be honest, I'm not sure if management is what I want to do (although the department is small - she essentially "herds cats" with the other personnel that we deal with). I've been in a management position before and I had a hard time with it - but I think that was more due to my age than anything else (I was 21 at the time - supervising a group that was at least my parents' ages, if not older). This will be much the same situation - most of the personnel is much older than I am.

I am open to learning new things and the things she's talking about sounds interesting to me. But I've always had the personality that once I've learned something and gotten good at it, I get bored and ready to move on to the next challenge. To look at my career with this company (16 years), it seems like I'm climbing the corporate ladder, but from my perspective, I've just been at the right place at the right time with the right skill set - and incredibly lucky!

I almost feel like I don't deserve the opportunity because of my path. I didn't finish high school (got my GED) and never went to college - but I'm making more money than a lot of the people I know. I shouldn't be complaining, but at the same time I feel guilty for what seems like the effortless opportunities that have been offered to me.

I have had others ask me how they can do what I've done, but I'll be honest - I'm not sure what to tell them.

You guys have done such a wonderful job with helping Thyme think through her questions - I'm hoping you'll help me as well.

[busymom]

I like it that she's thinking ahead. 4-6 years should be plenty of time to "train you in", and if you find you really don't like the position, I would tell her in a nice way that you don't feel you could ever "fill her shoes". Wish there were more bosses out there like yours....

BTW, don't ever feel "not good enough" about your education. I've got a degree, but went to school with people who weren't motivated enough to keep a chair warm at work. I'd rather hire someone who actually works, than a person with a piece of paper.

[KaraBoo]

May 18, 2012 20:42:27 GMT -5 busymom said:

I like it that she's thinking ahead. 4-6 years should be plenty of time to "train you in", and if you find you really don't like the position, I would tell her in a nice way that you don't feel you could ever "fill her shoes". Wish there were more bosses out there like yours....

BTW, don't ever feel "not good enough" about your education. I've got a degree, but went to school with people who weren't motivated enough to keep a chair warm at work. I'd rather hire someone who actually works, than a person with a piece of paper.

I did that one time before with another transfer in a different department. It was suggested that I interview for the department manager position, but they promoted from within the department. They offered me the new open position that was much more IT based than supervisor based. After 2 years in the spot, I was miserable (and not because I had learned everything, but because the job was too stressful for me due to being more clinical rather than clerical).

When my old position opened back up - I went to the people who had recommended me for the new position, thanked them for the opportunity, and begged for my old position back for my own sanity. They let me transfer back - and they let me keep my higher pay from the abandoned job.

So - I know I could do this again if necessary.

[maryjane]

KaraBoo,

I didn't deserve to be born with a good brain and a healthy body, but I was. Does that mean I shouldn't use what I have been given to the best of my ability? The very fact that you want to master a skill set and then learn another (you called this getting bored, but I have a different view ) tells me that you bring value to your organization.

Recently a career counselor gave me an "assignment." She told me to make a stock market/line chart for my career, starting with my first job. What were the high points and what were the low points (not of each job, but of your experiences at jobs). Patterns that have heavily influenced my work satisfaction became really clear. It sounds like you have a lot of self awareness and flexibility along with a great opportunity, so you should be more than fine!

[Deleted]

A couple of thoughts.

I think you're the poster with the step-kids? But even if you're not, although I don't know how old you are, I'm sure you are LIGHT YEARS more mature than you were at 21 (even if you were a very mature 21 year old!) So you shouldn't let that managerial experience color the future.

Second, 4-6 years is a long time away! If you're happy there, I'd just keep on keeping on and trying to do my best. When the time comes, you may be eager for the responsibility and the pay increase! I would be careful not to show any reluctance, even if the idea sort of worries you now. That timeline gives you plenty of time to grow into that job. And if and when the time comes you don't want it, you can always say no!

So (although it doesn't come easy to me personally) my best advice would be to relax. Be available to learn what your boss wants to teach you / share with you.

And kudos to you, because visibly your boss is extremely happy with you to be thinking that (even if you're not all that confident or convinced she's right at this point.)

[KaraBoo]

May 19, 2012 2:29:50 GMT -5 @maryjane said:

Recently a career counselor gave me an "assignment." She told me to make a stock market/line chart for my career, starting with my first job. What were the high points and what were the low points (not of each job, but of your experiences at jobs). Patterns that have heavily influenced my work satisfaction became really clear. It sounds like you have a lot of self awareness and flexibility along with a great opportunity, so you should be more than fine!

Can you expand on this idea a little more please? It sounds very interesting, but I'd like an example if you don't mind.

[KaraBoo]

Debthaven - Yes, I'm the poster with step-kids.

I am more mature than I was at 21 (I'm almost 37 now) - and I guess I've always been more mature than my age. It just really unsettled me at the time for her to say that she was planning on me being her replacement (although, it was also very affirming and exciting!).

I've been thinking about this over the weekend and part of the reason that it bothers me is the other employee in the department. She's been in the department for over 20 years while I've only been there about 6 months (and she's about 10-12 years older than me). I don't know how she will respond to the news (eventually - I'm not going to say anything to her!). From what I can tell, she's very much a worker bee - has her tasks, stays on them and can do them without thinking. I don't see her going anywhere anytime soon, so it is likely that if the plans go the way my boss is planning, I would then become my coworker's boss. The management position requires flexibility and dealing with case law - along with massive egos with the personnel we oversee.

I've been trying to not say what job position I'm in, simply because it's not a large group overall, but I guess it's not that big of a deal...

I work in the Medical Staff office of a local hospital. My boss is only the director of the employees directly underneath her (used to be 5 employees, but the department has been cut down to only 2 employee - me and the other). We credential all of the phyicians for the hospital - so that is over 500 other people we deal with on a semi-regular basis. If there are any issues with the physicians (violations, attitudes towards nurses/patients, etc), our department and specifically my boss is the ones who are involved in counseling and corrective action.

It's a big responsibility.