Excited regarding my new job but I'm not receiving support from my manager.

15 Comments

1. AnonymousApril 21,2023 at 9:25PM UTC

   That must be a really tough situation.

   It's disappointing when leaders bring new people in and don't consider how to set them up to succeed. You may have already tried these, but here are a couple of approaches I would take:
   1. Establish weekly 1:1 meetings with your SVP;
   2. Identify peers (ie. others who report to your SVP) that may be able to share some tips on how to best connect and build rapport with your SVP;
   3. Email the SVP and ask for a goal setting session, where they can share with you their expectations for your role.
   4. Was there a position description you can revisit?
   5. Speak to your HR/PandC team to get some advice around the protocols and norms in your workplace for connecting and communicating effectively. What works best and what doesn't work?
   6. You mention that you lead a large team. Can you ask them what they see as the top priorities for the team?

   Good luck. It can feel really lonely and isolating to be in that situation.

2. AnonymousApril 22,2023 at 12:46PM UTC

   I'm in the same spot as you, although you sound higher up the ladder. I have been at my new position six months now and still find it very frustrating to get clear instruction or training. I am doing everything the poster below suggested, some have helped but I still struggle daily. I came to the conclusion that me asking questions and being accountable is calling out the fact that they get little done and feels threatening to them. They don't want me to succeed because it makes them look bad. You might be experiencing this too. Instead of 1:1 with my direct supervisor I now have 1:1 with his boss, and I ask for priorities and help without saying a word about the direct boss. I also did start coziing up to other people in the company to get help and clarity and this worked best. I manage my four employees under me as if we are a tight team and they are now more loyal to me. It's still a struggle, but I work hard every day and other people higher up than my boss notice. Good luck.

3. AnonymousApril 22,2023 at 8:37PM UTC

   Thank you both! Great ideas and I'm sorry you've faced similar situations. I was so excited but I feel like I'm being set up to fail. Some of the team have been very helpful while other members are upset that I was given the role instead of their friends. I'll try some of your suggestions. Thank you!

4. AnonymousApril 23,2023 at 12:28PM UTC

   I had this happen to me and I had to leave. The new team leader was as helpful as a wet paper bag. The people I worked with didn’t seem to want me there. That was very apparent. They made up issues that I didn’t have. Would report that I was lazy and incompetent. I would ask for help and no one help me. I was yelled at by my boss in front of everyone saying I need to pay attention! He has a serious anger issues. This was in healthcare. Sadly, I left. Now I have no job. It at least I am able to sleep throughout the night. I’m not being bullied anymore but now I need another job. HR did listen and so did the high up manager, still I doubt anything changed.

5. Jessica CardApril 23,2023 at 1:01PM UTC

   Based on my experience, when it comes to high-level positions, it is your responsibility to take the initiative in creating your own training program. This entails scheduling meetings, training sessions, and shadowing opportunities with relevant team members in your department as well as in related departments, including your boss. If you need your manager’s support book time on their calendar and be prescriptive with your asks. Managing upwards comes in all shapes and sizes and you need to do what’s going to help you succeed. Don’t wait for it to come to you, create the environment to learn it.

6. KateCaseyApril 23,2023 at 1:17PM UTC

   This is, unfortunately, very common for people who’ve moved into a management role. There’s some really good advice in the comments I’d recommend focused on engaging managers and peers.

7. Jessica CardApril 23,2023 at 1:18PM UTC

   Let me give you an example based on my personal experience. In my previous job, on the first day, my manager met me in the lobby and showed me my office. They briefly introduced me to two of the people I was supposed to manage and then left to work in another building. There was no training, no expectations, no KPIs, and no introduction to people from related departments that we worked closely with or their management teams. At the end of the day, my manager returned and asked me, "What do you want to change?" I realized that I had to take charge, so I created my own training program.

   I shadowed my direct reports for a few days, started supporting them to get to know what they do, and looked for opportunities to improve our processes. I introduced myself to my other five direct report and as many people as possible, asked them about their roles and pain points, and then presented solutions and recommendations to my boss. To validate before implementing.

   This approach seemed to work, and I continued to repeat it. Over time, I became a trusted advisor for my boss and had a lot of influence with all the people I had spent time getting to know. This created a positive environment for me and my team. Despite not having KPIs, I created my own and never had 1:1s with my boss, so I made time when I needed direct advice. I figured that if they wanted to lead that team, they wouldn't have hired me.

8. Focused591478April 23,2023 at 4:14PM UTC

   Very well articulated. This was similar to my thoughts so I won’t greatly expand except to say, if you’re in a leadership role, lead…and leaders are learners and find ways to do that.

9. AnonymousApril 23,2023 at 3:41PM UTC

   I was in a similar situation. I am considered an individual contributor who needs to lead projects and indirectly manage and influence people across various functional areas in a global organization. My manager withheld information from me when I asked for clarification, would go out on PTO all the time without telling me(we do not have unlimited PTO so she was abusing that) and even mocked my hearing loss. Finally pulled in hr and the investigation and my documentation proved that she was bullying me and did not want me to succeed. She actually is the one that hired me which made it very confusing to me. She is no longer my manager but my new manager is her bff ?? Can you even imagine ….. holding on due to these uncertain times. Starting to hate corporate America but I know owning my own business is not for me and freelancing/contracting is not steady income and not good health benefits.

10. Crystal HowellApril 23,2023 at 4:13PM UTC

    Wow, from the frying pan into the fire! Hold on, and look online at Linkedin sales navigator, it's a platform that has top decision makers for top companies that are hiring. Good Luck! You are Worth It, don't forget!

11. Crystal HowellApril 23,2023 at 4:14PM UTC

    Document your emails, and ask questions. Sounds like he has a sink or swim attitude without help. Figure out the work arounds, and make friends with your team to shine, pull in HR if you are not getting anywhere or his boss. Good Luck!

12. AnonymousApril 23,2023 at 5:06PM UTC

    Could you present back a summary of your understanding and plans from what you know, with a list of your assumptions and needed details? Then you can show how you are framing the work ahead and help your boss see what is missing. I’d take it on as a challenge until they show specifically they aren’t interested in helping.

    They may not understand what you are missing. Assuming positive intent for now could still be useful. Keep us posted and good luck!

13. AnonymousApril 23,2023 at 5:24PM UTC

    I would book a 1-1 with your manager and have a prepared list of what is missing. Walk him through what you have and what is not available to you. Give things priority levels when you do and come up with some firm deliverables so that you can give this work to your directs in a cohesive way. Put together a project plan with dates and commits. Show him why he hired you to lead this big team.

14. AnonymousApril 24,2023 at 1:19AM UTC

    I think the answer here is found in your own initiative. You know what you need, so schedule the meetings necessary to get that information. Plan your projects and just ask for your boss’ input or approval rather than guidance.

    I could have written this post almost exactly, so I definitely understand the concern. But you might find that this is an opportunity to demonstrate how capable you are for this leadership role. You’ve got this.

15. Clydene HorriganApril 27,2023 at 12:03AM UTC

    There has been dome great advice about taking the initiative from others. One thing I would add is when you meet with individuals ask them who else you should meet with that could use your help and/or that could be helpful to your ability to make an impact for the company.