I am stuck at my level, I would like to advance but that requires managing people which I fear... What to do?
16 replies (most recent on top)
OP sounds sincere. So here's my advice.
Management and Leadership are two very different things.
In a big beaurocatic organization like WF it is the Managers that run the show, and for their own personal gain and ego. If a "Leader" starts to emerge from the ranks, the typical Manager will see that person as a threat, and will do everything possible to get rid of that person.
My advice for an emerging Leader is to seek opportunities with smaller organizations.
My advice for someone who wants to be a Manager is to stick with WF and enjoy churning the red tape forever and ever for the paycheck.
More money is available to you in a bonus eligible Sr. single contributor role. However......if you are an extreme narcissist, it is possible you could make more $$ in the executive ranks.
No....if you're a pu--y, unable to stand up and make decisions, mentor, and or discipline all towards the development of a team......you're pursuing the wrong role. Best to perhaps seek a job in a bath house in SF handing out sweets and towels.
So jump in and help lead. You dont need a title to help lead your team. Leading != managing and in many cases being a front line manager is more of a babysitter than directing work. You essentially will deal with problems all day long. Co-worker issues with each other, employee performance issues, chase down roadblocks so your team can be productive, year end reviews where you have to force rank them, being told to layoff people, motivating people that have no desire to be there. Are these things you want to take on as a manager?
You can lead as an IC, just jump in. Notice things your manager is struggling with and either just do it or ask if you can help by doing _______. Volunteer to learn things and teach the rest of the team, find improvements in process, better organize workflows, none of these require managing people but will help out your manager and in turn help you out by gaining leadership traits and hopefully a better rating at year end.
Hi All, I am the OP.
There are several reasons I would like to go into management and money is just one of them. Frankly I feel I need to be able to provide more value as I grow, if I can coordinate and direct work of multiple people I think I can accomplish more - I feel I'd be able to leverage more of my skills this way, this would a personal growh goal. Also, my manager is overloaded right now and I know I should be able to help her and the overall team if I jump in and assist, I think I know what I would need to do.
Anyhow, thank you all for the insights, this is very helpful.
Are you kidding? The OP has to be a joke.
You ask the general question and using the word fear, it tells a story that leads to the conclusion that any position overseeing people is not for you. My personal viewpoint is that supervisory and management positions are always best performed by leaders.
You either have leadership or you don't, and few (even at Wells) have it. I have studied management and have been in management over my many years in business, so i have a first hand view of this. Get into something that you are BOTH good at doing and you like. At some point you will notice that people begin to seek your opinion and ask your direction. By default, at that point, you will become, in some ways, a leader. If it ever gets to that point, you can then decide if you'd like to take some classes on some basic do's and don'ts and possibly elevate your title. But to look for management at this point will taint your career perspective on management and your peers and others will have a low opinion of your work and that can get you booted. Good luck.
Post ID: @cfn+1dCMfGHL
That is an excellent point. I can see the need to reduce needless layers of management (too many “managers” with just 2 or 3 people), however you make a great counter-argument.
I think WFC consistently F’s everything up because they come down with 1 blanket rule to cover all employees in all businesses, with no exceptions, and then they are not capable enough to assess how it’s happening or if the results are as anticipated. Eventually, people exploit the 1 ridiculous rule in order to survive.
In my LOB - they are recklessly moving employees under stray managers, who know nothing about them or their work, with the only goal being to make sure each manager has at least 7 employees. It is total nonsense and has the employees confused. For example they moved an entry level gal under a Managing Director (who only had 6 reports), but have told her to not bother him and to keep taking direction from her old manager. Yes - these are our leaders.
It’s all such nonsense, but then again - our executives are too d-mb to catch it.
Why do you want to be a manager? If it’s just to progress to make more money, there are lots of opportunities outside of management to increase your salary. If it’s more responsibility, again there are opportunities out there for that as well. Look at Product Management roles if you are on the business side. Lots of responsibility, can get paid a nice sum, with no people management necessary. If on the tech side, look into a Principal Engineer path. Again, lots of responsibility, great pay and no need to manage people. There is no need to move into management if you do not want to.
I’ve been asked by my management multiple times over the years to move into a manager position. I’ve said multiple times i do not want to manage people so they are moving me towards a higher level IC position. I can still influence and lead larger teams and initiatives without all the manager BS.
@nuu+1dCMfGHL
Management experience does not mean manager experience. It means you've got experience managing. Projects, sub teams, groups, even the employee groups WF has.
Be a tech fellow. All the bennies of managing with none of the management
no, business classes won't make you unafraid of managing people nor will it make you a good leader. Ask yourself why you're wanting to get into management, and if it's just the money potential, I would strongly urge against it. Managing people is it's own headache and you need to be in it because you want to help grow and nurture talent. There's plenty of IC roles that make just as much as management roles. Find something you're good at and build your brand to earn more. Don't go a route that you (and your potential employees) will later regret. Think about the good and bad bosses you've had - what caused those experienceS? Do you truly think you're meant to be a leader? None of this is meant in judgement, just asking questions so that you're aware there's other routes.
This is actually going to be a problem for Wells, and it will be a problem of its own creation. Because of the 7:1 ratio now required, only those with management experience already could successfully operate in manager roles.
I'm curious how you'll get hired for a management role when management experience is required. I'm in the same boat and it seems individual contributors are hamstrung for career progression. You can't baby step into it with a couple people, you need 10 which can be a big jump to go from 0 to 10
Why attempt to pursue a career path you’re not suited for and won’t enjoy? What are the chances you’ll be good at it, never mind happy?
For a few more bucks?
Pursue work you enjoy, or at least don’t hate.
Dunno. Maybe it's not a good idea to post a non layoff related question to an annon board thinking your going to get steller career advise?