Career Questions , Manager issues etc

[dvfinance]

Guys
I could not come up with a relevant title for this thread...I am currently responsible for our off-site technical practice and report to my director who is overall responsible for the technical practice including US. All communication to the executive team goes thru my boss this includes all status including mine practive... My boss is a great guy and i like him.. but sometimes i feel that my final goal should be to have a direct communication with the executive team and that will not be possible till i am included in such conversations. I am well respected in the workplace and have management responsibilities. However, to make a mark with the executive team directly and to be looked upon as a part of the leadership team, i feel something needs to happen.... maybe my boss including me in meetings etc.

Any comments on how i can make this happen and rise to the next level.. i know a promotion, title change etc is one way

[cnu]

I'm no great to advise, but may be a pointer to think about...

Please correct me if I followed it wrong, you want a bunch of executives to report to you, and you want to be the communication medium between your present boss and the executive team. If I got this correct...


Communications: May be its as simple as communicate this to your boss in the most possible polite way, something like: Mr. just thinking of this, please let me know your thoughts on this.... I wish ... depends on how he reacts, you can take it from there, I suppose.

But I believe, Leader leads from behind, so if your execs really respect you, that means they listen to you. If you have what it takes to lead them, you are already a leader [ofcourse not officially but still].

When a peer of mine became my boss, I thought he deserved it, cos he has what it takes to where he is now... I decided not to go cos there is no material benefit :emsmilep:

Good luck!

[Desi_by_Nature]

interesting.

How rigid is the organization heirararcy in your workplace? I mean is it possible to have direct communication with executives at your level - or would you have to replace your director in order to do that?

What's the status of people in the same level as you in your organization (but in different teams)?

I am wondering if your boss is being a jerk and and trying to keep his importance by being the link of communication betweent the people who give out work and the people who do the work. Sometimes such a position becomes indespensible in the organization.
Or maybe his goal is to get into the executive management eventually and he feels that the more he blabbers with them, the earlier he'll get there.

Contrary to #2's suggestion ,I would not suggest talking to him until you have a better picture. I mean talking to him could backfire - if your boss gets the idea that you want to take his position, or do anything that would diminish his important and image in front of the executive board, and if he's a real jerk he may try to put someone else in your position as long as he has the power to do that - someone who is more docile and will dance on his tunes.

And I think if you want to talk to him - talk about a promotion (if that's what you reallly want) - coz that's a more widely acceptable and understandable thing to ask.
Asking him to inculde you in executive meetings, or to give you the opportunity to talk more to them sends out the message that you're trying to do something but don't exactly want to tell what is it you're ultimately after.

Finally if this thing has been going on for long, think about making lateral moves in your organization. Maybe some other team/group/division is growing faster than others which opens up the possibilities for you to move up.

[Chicago Desi]

1. Ask for small interactions (just once) and gradually increase interactions over a period of time (once in six months, once in two months, once a month).
2. Find folks you can befriend on the executive team through your network and build social relationships gradually.
3. Ask someone on the executive team to be your mentor.
4. Ask that you present a complex project yourself as a one time deal.
5. When dealing with responsibilities, think and act like you already are at a higher level. That will help everyone see you in a new light, as if you were in that position. Its easier to build a network that way.

[dvfinance]

DBN

The org hierarchy is not that rigid since our company is not that big. The Boss is not a jerk because he lets me do whatever i want and supports me till the end. The Boss is responsible for A + B. He closely manages B and i am responsible for A. Till to date he has not overturned a single decision of mine. He also does not manage any of my work.... just lets me run it.

Since A is preety much an independent group, my expectation is that i be involved in some of the high level meetings etc. I hear a good feedback from everyone but when it is time for a leadership meeting, i am not invited. My perception is that i am doing a great job .. but then their perception might be that my group is not that important.

E.G When he talks to the VP about my group,, i expect that i be invited to those meetings once a while since that is how i can show to the VP first hand who i am. I also get sometimes the impression that age plays negatively for me. I am 30 and all the executive/leadership team is 40 +. I am referred to buddy sometimes .. while that is positive i think it is weird....

I do not want to supercede him since he has been very very nice to me . I dont want his job ... i dont want to play politics etc ...My concern is that he just might not have the vision to make this happen...

CD

1. Ask for small interactions (just once) and gradually increase interactions
over a period of time (once in six months, once in two months, once a month).

I am doing that

2. Find folks you can befriend on the executive team through your network and build social relationships gradually.

I do have a friend who constantly tries to get me involved. He does not know about this situation and he does this normally.
3. Ask someone on the executive team to be your mentor.

I have a mentor who is in the upper management. However i am not sure whether i should birng this up or give it some time. Keep in mind that my boss and I share a very very very good relationship and he tries his best to do everything for me. somehow he is missing this part or maybe my expectations are higher

4. Ask that you present a complex project yourself as a one time deal.
Great idea.. i try to do that ... but havent had many opportunities to make a presentation myself etc

5. When dealing with responsibilities, think and act like you already are at a higher level. That will help everyone see you in a new light, as if you were in that position. Its easier to build a network that way.

This is what i was looking for. if i think more about this, i already start feeling more confident.. maybe i just make an assumption and start behaving subtely in that way....


Thanks Guys!!! I have read a book that says that growth comes when you start interacting with your exec team directly.... that is what i am aspiring for... i have done what i could do from a prove my work perspective .,., now it is more abt getting the right chances and being there to take them at the right time

[Chicago Desi]

Read the book, 'Never Eat Alone'. You will get some great ideas on developing a strong network. Doing your job well is not enough to ensure growth. This book will throw some light on some of the aspects outside of doing your job well.