Declining Management - The Downside

[Scott 2]

About two years ago, I successfully got myself demoted from 1 direct report to 0, they were trying to give me four.

I traded a large bump in pay to avoid countless hours of meetings, dealing with other people's problems, and 20-30% travel. Getting the change to happen was hard, they really wanted me to manage.

I now have a new boss between me and my old boss, I like them both. Everyone is happy with my work. I'm earning more than ever. That's all been great.

What is making me crazy, is the loss of control. A decent part of my reservation in going into management, was the company is rapidly growing. I saw the scaling needs, knew my inexperience, and was certain solving them would require frequent long weeks. I cannot help myself faced with a problem, I grind it out.

Two years later, the scaling needs remain unsolved. We have a bunch of half finished efforts, double the number of staff, and a lot of the work has become manually making up for the operational problems. Value delivered to business, to date, is at best equal to before the growth.

Had I taken the role, I would have considered this level of progress a total failure. I never dreamed it was possible to move so slowly. With the possible exception of my old boss, concern around the company seems minimal. I am impatient and trying to problem solve from below, which is remarkably less effective

Of all the paths I imagined for this going poorly, I never anticipated this. Admittedly, it would take years of continued poor inertia to undermine the business and threaten my position. I know the rational choice is to enjoy my otherwise awesome job, but the lack of progress is really getting to me.

[BRUTE]

has Scott 2 tried "leading from below"? i.e. trying to pull the company in the right direction without formally being in charge of those decisions.

[Scott 2]

I've had some traction influencing change from below, but a new culture of complacency has evolved, seemingly overnight. It strongly dampens any waves I can make.

I was at another company our size previously, but money was tight. Change happened far quicker. I don't think it's simply a result of going from small to medium.

I am mostly surprised at how difficult it is for me to simply enjoy a very comfortable situation. Others seem to have no problem.

[bryan]

You can have some negative effect by "leading" from below, to consider. The main one I'm thinking of is what happens when you show everyone what is possible (whether by example or a vision or brainstorming) yet no action comes out of it (from others or upper mgmt). Discontent or uneasiness (though maybe this is preferable to complacency?) begins to permeate. Leading is in quotation marks because to lead is to take responsibility and in this example I don't think it's done; that would involve taking more action than I suggest. So, if you don't want to take a leadership role, at least cozy up with those in official leadership positions and get them to see the light (and hope they are good managers/strategists/tacticians and give a damn)?

[TheWanderingScholar]

I've had some traction influencing change from below, but a new culture of complacency has evolved, seemingly overnight. It strongly dampens any waves I can make.

I was at another company our size previously, but money was tight. Change happened far quicker. I don't think it's simply a result of going from small to medium.

I am mostly surprised at how difficult it is for me to simply enjoy a very comfortable situation. Others seem to have no problem.

Honestly, it seems like my POV it is a combined issue of "What Could Have Been?" question alongside with the hard-work ethic and problem solving ability, driving away at you.

As for the company? Agreed with your implication that Eesy times makes people complacent so having a large margin makes people relax and not takes thing as hard while being tight with money and "time=money" makes people decisive and quick on their feet. (Sorry if I am drawing conclusion from then air.)

[Seppia]

If you feel the need to lead, you should have taken the role, the raise and the added workload/responsibility.
Maybe it's not too late.
While I detest the materialism and careerism of today's society, I personally think there is no shame in actually enjoying being in a leadership position and being able to influence people, if that is what you like to do and you do it honorably.
For me, being a piece of the corporate machine is a lot more bearable if I utilize my work capabilities to the fullest extent.
I hate wasting resources so I would hate being in a position where my limited talents are obviously underutilized.

[Scott 2]

I've purposefully avoided the word lead. That is not the role I want. All the people stuff that goes with it, I really don't like. Person X has an issue with person Y, the recruiter is giving us unqualified candidates, why has this delicate snowflake's performance started to suffer, time to travel so we can meet in person, etc. Yuck. Let's grab our computers and get to work. We'll chat over IM or do a quick call if speaking is a must.

I agree influencing change from underneath is delicate. I've tried really hard to avoid undermining the recent hires at the level introduced above me. I understand if I don't want their job, I need to support their methods. For at least the first year, that was all I did. As I've gotten more frustrated, I've gotten more aggressive. Probably to their detriment at times. Being FI, my priority is a sustainable work environment to ply my trade. I'm sure that comes through in some communication, especially when I get impatient.

I was convinced we'd hire in specialists with prior experience at the management levels, they'd come in eager to please, solve all our problems, and I'd get to see how experts do things. I was going to sit quietly doing the work I enjoy, learning all the time, and everyone would be happy. Unreasonable expectations, apparently.


While I try to influence the change that I want, I am placating myself in other ways. I know I've got a good thing going. Mostly I wanted to share a side of the problem I completely missed. Avoiding responsibility while keeping my pay was the easy part. Taming my ego is a bear.