Whose Job Do You Want?
by Coach Colle Davis
There are a lucky few who have the job they want and love. Most of them are entrepreneurs; others happen to be in the position that is perfect for them at this point in their lives.
If you are not in this small happy group, whose job do you want?
Disclaimer: This information requires being aware that ‘everything is politics’ and will require curiosity and courage to implement, and it is possible to maneuver yourself into your dream job.
Ask yourself, “Do you want your boss’s job? Do you want your boss’/boss’ job? Or, some other position in your company or another company?” If the answer is “Yes,” here is a strategy.
What has to happen for you to get that dream job? Here is a successful process for making your transition occur in record time.
First, you must make sure that the target job person is promoted or relocated with your help. Your advancement means you are helping others up their ladder, and you, in turn, become a valuable resource for everyone. The rest of your career depends on how well and how quickly you implement your mutual advancement program.
How much do you know about your target person, the one you are helping move up? The more you know about them, the more successful you will be.
Ask yourself these questions: What sports team(s) do they follow? What is their spouse’s name, kids’ names, and where do they vacation? What are their aspirations in life, and do they want to move up or out of the company? How long have they been with the company? Are they happy with their job? What are their biggest fears or joys?
Knowing as much about this person as possible helps you find them a perfect landing spot for their move. This becomes easier when you can sell your boss to their future boss. What resources do they need to have in place for them to make the big move? What resources can you provide for them?
Ask them, ” How you can I help you achieve your goals?”
They will be forever grateful.
After working with me for eight months, one of my clients was promoted to a leadership role. He had been with the company for seven years in the same position. He wanted to become a regional leader covering several offices. Before he visited each office, he learned everyone’s name, their favorite teams, the length of time they had been with the company, and several other important pieces of information.
When he walked in the door, he talked to each person as if he had known them for a while. They were blown away. Side note, within a year, he was promoted to his previous boss’s position, and his boss was moved up to his final place before retiring from the company. His focus that year became on helping his boss again so he could take his place.
You could take your boss’s place tomorrow if you have been in the company for more than two years. Taking their job is NOT a stretch, you know you can do it. Aim for two steps up so you can help more people. The chances are high that you can do a better job than your boss, so move them up or move them out so you can become their boss in a couple of years.
The next facet of your program is to train your replacement. Make sure there are at least two or three people on your bench so when you move up, one of them can take over your old position. They are already loyal to you and will continue to focus on making you look good.
Caveat: The other option is moving your boss out of the line of succession or out of the company. Here, the focus is to make you look good and your boss, not so good. Moving them over to take their place is fraught with pitfalls and requires more risk-taking than most people can muster.
Step One: Decide if you want their job or their boss’s job. To move a person out of the way is Machiavellian hardball. Not for the faint of heart.
Here is the process. Make yourself indispensable to your organization and take full credit for everything you and your team accomplish. This means no glory or credit is given to your boss. You and your team get the credit, loudly, publicly, and continuously. You are preparing the world for the move.
Bad-mouthing anyone is not necessary, and it will inevitably come back to bite you. It is better to be quiet when praise or questions about your boss’s performance is brought up in conversation, especially from higher-ups.
The last option is helping them move to another organization. Here is a delightful statistic: If they have been with the company for more than two years, changing companies results in a significant increase in income. Staying freezes their income. This point is an excellent conversation topic for dinner or lunch with your boss.
Networking builds contacts across the board and helps others find a place to land. You have learned their credentials, and you can talk directly about their strengths and abilities. When you find potential landing zones, call that organization, and find the person in charge of the function your boss is good at doing. Call the company and ask, “Are you still looking for a candidate for this position? If not, who is?” End all inquiries with the phrase, “Who else may be looking?” Keep detailed records of whom you have spoken with and make notes about ways how you can help them. This process also keeps your name in play.
Last and the most brutal is getting your boss fired. Some bosses need to be fired. Others in the organization are aware of their habits of squandering talents, time, resources, and money. Somehow, they got the job, probably because someone in another division wanted to get rid of them, and now you are stuck with their uninspired leadership.
Your job is to make them look bad without inflicting any damage on you or your team. Develop a strong working relationship with them and be willing to document any transgressions and costs to the organization. While it may be difficult, reporting their misbehavior is good business. However, be prepared to catch a considerable blowback from your boss and their boss if they are friends. As a fallback, prepare for moving out of the company yourself.
What is stopping you from getting the job you want? Oh, wait, the assumption was you wanted your boss’s job. Maybe not? If not, if you want a different job, there is an upcoming article on that topic.
For more help, encouragement, or to turbocharge your life, call or email me.
Colle Davis is a Senior Level Master Coach and Certified Hypnotist with over 30 years of helping corporate clients. Reserve your free twenty-minute Zoom call with me, and your life will never be the same.
804-467-1536 EST cdavis@mycoach.com In the meantime, stay safe and have fun.
