I went solo 15 years ago because of my inept ability to manage 4 employees. No advice.
@bruce-small I can identify!?ÿ I never thought time cards would be the stressful part of surveying.
Best management advice I ever received:
My cousin is a retired marine aviator. He told me a story that, at the Naval Academy, when graduates were given their initial career assignments a representative from that community gave them their insignia. For example a Submarine Officer would give the Midshipman the dolphin insignia and say something like "welcome to the silent service".?ÿ The Marine Officers always say the same thing to Midshipmen getting the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor: 'Take care of your men"
Second Best:
There are two ways to look at a change in position like this.?ÿ One is as a reward for your experience and the time you've put into your career.?ÿ The second is as a brand new career with a new set of often overwhelming responsibilities (for example, if you are expected to participate in a portion of the departments business development goals, then the livelihood of your staff is in your hands).?ÿ You are almost guaranteed to succeed with the second approach.?ÿ?ÿ
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Did much the same thing a year ago. I jumped into a big corporation. Large corporate structure made it hard for me to build team (I had to start from scratch, then got saddled with the wrong personality for my XO, assigned by corporate). The political and budget structure matters, and it isn't always obvious. I think it was a great company, but I bailed when I felt it was likely that I was going to be one of the scapegoats on a project that had already been completely worked over by other goats.?ÿ
Moved to a small company, but basically the same job that you describe. I don't have enough experience in yet to offer a lot of advice, but I have learned this:
Delegate. Delegate. Delegate.?ÿ
Delegate. Delegate. Delegate.?ÿ
This. This. This.?ÿ
I bailed when I felt it was likely that I was going to be one of the scapegoats on a project that had already been completely worked over by other goats.?ÿ
This is what I call the "bayonet the wounded" phase of project management.
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Part of me wanted to stick around and see if I could make it through the Survivor "vote off the island" phase, or as you called it the "bayonet the wounded", but I don't have a lot of experience in that. Politics is a strange thing, and a unique skill set.
I actually think that I could have made it in the company, it wasn't a bad company (in fact I have zero bad to say about it), but the project was a bit strange, and they had never had a survey manager on a project from what I could tell.?ÿ
I do miss the amazing benefits!
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