If you’re wondering, that title is a compliment I received from an employee. I’m not sure what it means, if you know me I’m sure you’re laughing, I’m pretty much the opposite of gangster but…. I’ll take it and assume it means his version of approachable and effective based on the context.
They say do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. That might be stretching it….but, for the first time, I understand what it means.
It’s been a hell of a week for me, a few weeks really…. lost my work buddy😭which sucks, especially in HR- everything is confidential so being a department of one is misery- there’s nobody to confer with on subjective issues, except attorneys, nobody to debrief with over lunch.😰 However, this unfortunate situation afforded me a unique experience to “audition” for a role. My resume may not have shown that I was the best candidate, but the unique issues I had the opportunity to handle as they made their decision to accept or decline my department restructure proposal proved I was up to the task.
This is far from my first role in management, I held my first management role at 16. However, this is the first time being promoted instead of hired from outside which means I am confident in almost every situation and have great specialty resources available when I need them. Thanks to a great manager for the last year who involved me and approached everything collaboratively 100%, valued my opinion, and built my professional confidence.
Also for the first time I have full executive support and a seat at the proverbial table that everyone in HR is always fighting for. And the best part- I didn’t even have to ask, it was assumed and given because… logic. Why wouldn’t I be involved in strategic business planning along with other department heads? Logic, folks, my boss seems…..logical. Maybe there’s some of you that understand what a gift that is, maybe I’m the only one who has endured illogical psycho bosses and have a little bit of PTSD.
I stepped down from management twice in my career to save my own sanity. Because of abusive bosses, underpaid exempt roles with excessive hours and expectations that offered no training, support or respect. And because of poorly communicated expectations, outright discrimination and being constantly attacked and “thrown under the bus” by co-workers. I chose to move on, I chose not to be defeated. Which would’ve been very easy to do. I’m not patting myself on the back, I wanted to give up, I would’ve under different circumstance. When you have five kids, a family, that isn’t an option. And we all do what we have to do, even the things we never thought we’d survive.
Now, I’m not going to lie, it’s challenging, it will have some similar challenges, my co workers aren’t all peaches and cream, and if you work in the business world long enough, you know, those suited up business men who run the world are all just overgrown toddlers when out in the right situations.😉 Don’t misunderstand and think this will be easy, 😂 but being prepared, fully trained, supported and respected by my peers, feels pretty good.
Let’s see if I still feel this way after attending my first management meeting… It’s a manufacturing environment…….I’m assuming they’re joking when they say there’s been “haymakers” thrown in meetings…..😵
Nah, this is gonna be fun. 😜🙊😊✌🏼🙏
The Uncategorized Life 