I know the norm in the world out there is a race to the top, but has anyone ever got there, decided it wasn't for them and then successfully stepped back down a level or two? I'm thinking long and hard about this at the minute. For a few years I've worked my arse off and put in a lot of extra hours and effort to get to my management position but I'm strongly starting to doubt whether it's worth the mental energy. In addition to my own problems, I now have the problems of a dozen others which weigh on my mind and I take home more than I should. I don't particularly agree with the direction my own manager is taking us and the politics amongst other managers who are more interested in making themselves look good than anything else is a constant frustration. I guess I think that back at a lower level I could do a great job, work normal hours, leave my responsibilities at the door and put my energy into my personal life. The downsides would obviously be a pay cut (possibly a substantial one) and losing the influence that I have to shape the way my company runs. So has anyone ever done something similar? How did it work out?
I think @Dancingstripes is correct in asking which is more important. That said, if you are passionate about wanting to move your company forward in a direction you want, which you have already said, you will have to step up and take the responsibility. You won’t be able to influence from the bottom.
I took a 10k paycut. Went back to my normal job and was as happy as a pig in sh*te. Got head hunted 1 yr later for a totally different role in a different sector of work. Massive pay rise, great job. What I am basically saying is they were MY decisions. I stood or fell by MY decisions.
I did. I had a job where I was all over the country typically spending 2-3 nights every week in hotels somewhere, 60-70 hours a week on average - great money and destined for better things but when I started to feel like a visitor in my own home I knocked it on the head, took a job on much less money locally and am much happier as a result. I also used to have management responsibilities for lots of others - complete thankless task, don't miss it at all. Don't look upon it as a demotion because that makes it sound like you've failed when you haven't - you have simply taken on a role that suits your life better. There are lots of people near the top of the ladder whose life is a complete car crash because of work but they can't get off because they are reliant on the money - in my opinion being happy is much more important than having a bit of extra status at work.
Yeah it's a situation where I will have to compromise something. Certainly not a decision I will rush into without thinking it through, but I'm sure I can find other things to be passionate about.
you will find the higher you go in a company the less jobs there are to go for and when you reach 2nd from top and your boss is in his 40s you are trapped mate get out while you can and enjoy life you won’t regret it
Cheers, that's a quality response. Maybe moving company is a better answer so the compromise doesn't feel as blatant. I sort of understand where you're coming from. I definitely haven't failed, I'm a very good manager for someone who hasn't been at that level too long. I always wanted to get to a position where I could improve things for everyone, but I'm finding that it comes at the cost of my own peace of mind.
You sound stuck in the middle of workers and boss , trying to please them both . When I was it was impossible to keep both sides happy and it ends up its your performance that is deemed to be failing . Of course it doesn’t have to be like that , it’s more likely that you’ve been given **** colleagues above and below you . Redundancy got me out of it , but eventually quality of life and daily contentment would have made me walk . Don’t ever do anything hasty though , have a next step sorted .
For want of a better word Some people want the glory is management However they find that it’s not for them and step back It’s not all about the money
There's definitely an element of this. I'm doing a good job right now but it's a juggling act and I'm not being true to myself in any of it. Senior management tend to see the workers as a number and it's an "us and them". They want to run departments based on statistics and think people are replaceable. I know the nuances of the job because I've been a worker in those roles, but you find that office politics and saying things that sound more managerial often get you listened to more than harsh truths or objections to an approach. I basically feel like everyday I'm either going to war with senior management or to war with myself for compromising on what I believe. I'm not sure it's worth that kind of energy, but I'm not someone who can do something half heartedly either, so I'm all in or I'm out.
Don't compromise on what you believe. You got promoted to management for a reason remind them of that. It's going to be tiring, but any wins you get will be very satisfying. Compromising is tiring anyway, plus you're not satisfied. Worst case, it doesn't we work out and you can change jobs, which you're thinking of doing anyway.
I did it - I was promoted to team manager in my previous NHS role and, after around a year, decided management wasn't for me! I asked to be returned to my previous role (which they did) - although I have moved well above the level I was as team manager now but in a more technical capacity! (still with the same NHS organisation)
I decided against applying for a promotion (not management level but still, a promotion) as I have too much stuff going on outside of work for more stress in work. Whilst it would have included a pay rise which is needed I went for a less stressful life.
Due to the nature of my work I've gone from one job to another whereby the salary has sometimes halved or doubled ... ... I've barely noticed a difference tbh.
I 'retired' early because. Work was having a severe impact in my health. It meant taking a 'hit' on my pension. But in making this decision decided health was more important. Best decision I ever made. Had to pull in purse strings a bit before state pension kicked in
I'm actually looking into this as we speak. I'll not go into the details but it's a health thing and I've pretty much decided that health is more important than money although it'll also be slightly embarrassing with my peers in short term as well.
