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Anonymous

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Hi folks! I would like some advice around approaching my manager (who I really like) about how systematic internal issues at the company are making the goals of my team feel unattainable and causing me insane stress.

I came from a background that was not corporate and this is my first corporate job. I have tons of work ethic and experience and I have already been promoted and given further education on my team. But again, first corporate experience.

People within the company are well aware of these systematic issues and frankly these problems really effect all sales teams ability to deliver the customer promise to the market that we serve. After years it is becoming clear that this is not actually getting fixed.

I am beginning to feel that in order to sustain and or stop this insane level of stress that I will either need to sell my integrity/soul and stop being a good worker or change positions.

My manager and I have tried for two years to help solve this internal problem across many teams. I have also been getting very ill at least once a month for a year and I am worried that this job and the stress it causes is now effecting my health.

It is clear that fixing these internal data/operational/delivery problems is not a priority at the executive level and I don't see my position improving. In fact the writing on the wall seems to look like more pressure, more unattainable goals and more work for the team that I am on.

The problem is that I love working for my manager and I love the values/culture and benefits of the company. I know that these changes are not her doing and that this is coming from someone hired above her fairly recently. I don't know how to bring this up professionally. I am afraid of sounding like I am whining, not accepting the facts or that I just don't want to "do more". I am also aware that she is doing her best and being pushed into new objectives as well.

Does anyone have any suggestions or advice around a situation like this?

How do I approach my manager with these concerns without coming across as unprofessional or whiny?

When do you know that too much stress is too much stress?

Also, is this a situation where maybe I am done with this position or job, or is this just typical of a corporate world?

HELP!

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  1. Anonymous

    You should speak with your manager in a non-accusatory way. It sounds like you're doing your best to give her the benefit of the doubt. If you're right, maybe you can work with her to find ways to get what needs to be done. Or, if she's not agreeable to that and "drinks the Kool-aid" you may need to consider moving on so you don't further endanger your mental and physical health. Hope this helps!

  2. Anonymous

    Thank you so much!

  3. Anonymous

    You probably don’t wanna hear this but systematic issues in corporate normally never get better. You are wasting your time and breath trying to talk to your manager about this. What you need to do is adjust your expectations and remove your emotions from this and just do your job and go home. Or find a new one.

  4. Anonymous

    Thank you so much :)

  5. Anonymous

    Sounds like you work at my former company. Your manager is in the same boat as you, just trying to do her best in the environment. This is all coming from senior management and is not likely to change unless there are some major changes in personnel at that level. So you can just do the best you can and don't put in extra effort if it's not appreciated or you can leave. Not all companies are like this but it's not terribly uncommon. Compartmentalization helped me - when I wasn't working, I didn't think about it much.

  6. Anonymous

    Thank you so much :)

  7. Anonymous

    I think acceptance is your first strategy. I understand that you want improvement but if this is not a priority and on anyone's radar in leadership then you are up against a brick wall. While it's frustrating it is the reality.

    Your 2nd strategy is for your health. Your personal priority is to you and your wellbeing. At the end of the day it's a job. Coping skills aside, you should take a serious look at the cost this job is having on you and the quality of your life.

    There are all sorts of decisions to make and they, at the point, all have to do with change to you and not to the operation of your company.

  8. Anonymous

    Thank you so much.

  9. Anonymous

    thank you!

  10. OLIVIA JOHNSON

    Sounds like a challenging environment in itself and then as a first corporate role even more taxing.

    A few suggestions, as obviously we don't have all the facts but from what I am hearing I would recommend first, taking a day off. You need some time to breathe, think and re-evaluate. I would plan for this, so maybe like next Friday (usually a day that won't impose too much on anyone work wise). I would take this day to relax first and then assess where you are, what you want and where this role fits into those goals.

    In the interim, on the job, I would consider a change of approach. Pretend that in this role you are your own CEO and your team are your direct reports. What are the challenges and more importantly, what are the solutions! Once you have some solutions, then categorize these into the "what can I implement without executive approval" pile. Once others see that your structure or strategies are working, they may or may not follow. I love that you have an awesome relationship with your boss. Keep them in the loop and gain buy-in asking for insights and bouncing ideas off of them.

    This doesn't mean that you can't make the decision to move forward to another role, company, etc. but usually you may run into the same challenges until some solutions are developed. So even if leaving, on your way out, use this as a learning experience on how to manage up, and manage your team as your own business.

    I had a manager quite some time ago that showed me how this can work. He managed his region like his own business, did things differently than everyone else and at times caught some flak for it but the region was always more profitable, had consistent sponsors and supporters, etc. eventually others took notice.

    Hope this helps!

  11. Anonymous

    You describe the culture of many (maybe not all) sales organizations, and the bigger the tickets and commissions, the worse it is. You either "sell your soul" or get eaten alive by others jockeying for the same sale, bonus, or commission. It isn't necessarily typical for the "corporate world," but it is typical of sales teams. They motivate and generate more sales by putting up "contests" and bonuses that create a lot of backbiting. Some will do anything to bring in a sale, sometimes by inflating the product's features or selling a newer version that isn't available yet or where a defined sales territory isn't involved, stealing clients. I sold cars for two years as an interim job and thought I had sold my soul doing that. I had one salesperson who spoke to my client on the phone for five minutes that I had to split a commission 50-50 when I spent several hours helping him select the car and closing the sale.

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