Is it professional to move manager within a company to grow my role?
I have been in my current role for 18 months. On my last review, I received praises, and I have significant accomplishments in this window. About 4 months ago, I approached my manager for a step promotion. To make it easy to understand, basically from a Employee Title I to Employee Title II.
He did not give me a straight answer then, but he said that we will be talking about it soon. I waited a few more months and politely asked again in an informal conversation. I was blunt enough to ask him, if the unspoken rule for step promotions was to move within the company. He assured me that this is not necessary, and I can be sure we will talk soon.
Recently I schedule a meeting to talk about this one more time. During this meeting he told me that If I hold out another 4-8 months I might get something. He also added that I have to be "ok with big periods of time where I am static". His words.
Now I am confronted with a dilemma. If I go out and start looking for step promotions within the company, is very likely he will know about it.
Thoughts?
Career Progression
Have you listened to the MT promotion standard casts:
http://www.manager-tools.com/2010/03/manager-tools-promotion-standard-150-part-1
http://www.manager-tools.com/2010/03/manager-tools-promotion-standard-150-part-2
It may be more productive to sit down with your manager and make sure you have a common view of delta between your current role / responsibilities and the standard for the next level. Once you define the gap you can create a plan (and share it with your manager) on how to close it over time. Then periodically (more frequently than every four months) provide a review of your progress to plan. This serves as a reminder to him and a reality check for you.
I would also reach out to your internal network and ask what the typical career progressing time frame is between levels at your company. Is it reasonable that you would be considered for the next step after only 12 months? What have been the progression paths of the people currently at that level?
At my company at least, there is no question that your immediate manager would know that you are looking to move internally.
Best of luck - Sam
Thanks - Career Progression
Thanks Sam for your reply and the link to the promotion casts.
Before my first meeting with him, I did the gap analysis, and I started producing results using behaviors from the next steps. Showing that I am stepping up.
Then after 3-4 attempts of communicating with him my progress and getting very little or no feedback. I thought of holding off for two months before I ask again. I have observe very different experiences in term of time in position. I saw a Managing Director that went from Project Manager to Director in less than 4 years, and I have seen managers ( like mine) staying on a Manager role for 10 years.
I want to make what is right for my career, but I also want to make sure I keep a healthy relationship with my manager.
Thanks again, Geo
Internal Relationships & Visibility
Geo,
Up Front Opinion: It is professionally appropriate to move manager (switch departments) to grow your role. The question of 'is it professional' I believe is a behavioral question, which is dependant on what actions you take to achieve your goal. My humble suggestions below:
Internal Relationships:
http://www.manager-tools.com/2011/10/developing-internal-relationships-when-how-part-1
http://www.manager-tools.com/2011/10/developing-internal-relationships-when-how-part-2
Having those internal relationships with the influencers in your organization that can promote your career advancement goal are essential if your manager (as far as you've described) is not a 'mover and shaker'. It's also important to note which departments are the 'movers and shakers' (have given employees promotions justifiably). The leaders in those departments would be good candidates for developing internal relationships, to ensure that information on internal job openings is gathered early in the game. If someone is promoted, it generally means that there's a new opening at that level, no? I recall a podcast as well that the gist was 'don't ask for a job - ask for a recommendation'. This essentially hides your search for a cross-department move. If your manager asks you if you're looking for a job in another department, remember Mark's advice: "Anyone is entitled to a true and factual response to any question to which one is entitled" (Paraphrased)
Visibility:
The Project Manager you described being promoted to Managing Director may have been promoted because he managed a few projects with high visibility by the Executive Management, and therefore his positive efforts were easily seen. I only have moderate experience in the Operational side of things, but my belief is that Operational things tend to get less Executive visibility unless something is going wrong, in which case hopefully you are not the person responsible for things going wrong. You do want to be in the team correcting the problem, as they should have similar visibility. (I'm open to correction on the Operational point)
P.S.: His "If I hold out another 4-8 months I might get something." is akin to a dangle - there's a podcast for that.
Vaughan
DISC: 1377
Good Distinction
You're right to be concerned..and your boss isn't doing a good job of helping, or deciding, or communicating. To be fair to him, the economy slows down not only the job market but also internal opportunities, in general, because, of course, the talent market IS the talent market - the two are inextricably intertwined.
You'll have to make a judgment call about the potential backlash from your boss. That's not so much a rule or a principle, but rather boils down to your boss, and your relationship with him.
That said, there's another way. Just start making stronger relationships elsewhere. You don't have to "look" in a formal way. Just make connections, and pay attention to where there might be opportunities. If you can have a conversation about them that can be kept quiet, do so.
And, if you find that there are none...then maybe your boss isn't holding you back...it's just the company, or the market.
Mark