Pressing the Point
I feel sure at the moment that we need to make a major, strategic decision within the company.
We are sailing along just about keeping our heads above water. Hopefully we will secure that all important second contract soon but, even if we do, it will only really keep the wolf at bay for a while before we reach the same situation again.
I have been pushing my boss to try and change the goalposts. I have been in this situation before: companies that I have worked for have reach a point where something radical needs to be done.
My boss is not daft; he knows the score but doesn't seem to be doing anything which I feel intuitively can't be the case.
I am not sure quite what to do from here. Do I press - if so, I need to come down firmly on the side of one of the strategic options I have identified, something I haven't done with him yet - or continue to place my trust in his stewardship?
The other factor in the issue is the impact that it will have on me. I know I cannot remain immune. Do I look to move or stay loyal (which my AS always pushes me to do) and try to support whatever is happening?
In such situations personal loyalty becomes hard to maintain. Has anyone any thoughts or been in a similar situation that has provided a solution?
Tricky Situation
Sounds like you're in a tricky situation from what I'm reading about. I notice myself (and even other fellow workers) get into similar situations to this in the college we work for. I won't get into details or specific situations right now, since it will take a while to really write it down and even to read it. Our management tends to make some interesting decisions that people (including me) do not agree with it and end up not working that well. We always try to push them to try something else or demonstrate why this might not work. Our efforts tend to fail.
Even in my area for me I tend to have this problem. I know my director is wrong about some items but it's hard to really convince him to reverse his decisions and ideas.
I notice in my place you really have to have a case to reverse the decisions and goals that management puts into place. You have back up your opinions, research them, be very persuasive and be willing to take the consequences.
This can be frustrating because you know you're right and they're wrong and it's not easy to tell them that without a abundant amount of effort on your part. Plus I'm sure that even though people might agree with you, they tend not to back up you the way you might need it.
At this point I probably would not do much. I would wait to see if they learn from their errors. I know it's hard, frustrating and even demortalizing but I guess that's life.
I don't think you should
I don't think you should press the issue. You have stated your opinion, and that's good, however pressing any more can be construed as irriatating. Your boss has heard you, but ultimatly, he will make his own decision. He's the boss for a reason, because other people have put trust into his decision making.
Keeping loyal however, can have it's ups and downs. You can stay loyal to the company, and might miss a better and exciting oppertunity elsewhere. Or the company might break down and you might be without a position.
Good Insight
I think that you (and AS1976) have summised the situation very well and accurately.
My boss is in charge and - ultimately responsible and answerable - so he has to be left to make the choice. That is the management hierarchy and what management must be allowed to do.
He is also a highly intelligent individual, so I know that he will be considering this and will make a decision one way of the other within the limited parameters he has.
I think that what both you have outlined well is that this must be respected. What I think is a danger area for people with AS is believing that "we are right" when, of course, we "may" not be or, more pertinently, we don't respect the need to step back and let management get on with it. We have no right to assume that we are automatically right.
This is not to say that we should try to - constructively - voice an opinion or add imput, more that we shouldn't let it override our actions from there on in.
I think that there are two issues that impact in such situations that I find personally very difficult.
The first is loyalty. My AS dictates that I want to be loyal to my boss, especially if he has shown loyalty to me. In one very bitter experience doing so backfired on me very badly, though I am pleased to say that it was subsequently resolved from a personal perspective.
The second point is change. What I suspect is subconsciously happening with me is that I am trying to avoid it! Because I know it can be hard to find a corporate environment that I am happy with, and that changing roles means learning new tasks and responsibilities which I find hard, I remain in place even when I can see the writing on the wall or difficulties up ahead.
What I do feel slightly happier about is that I believe that in the last week my boss has started to openly show that he is thinking more along the same lines (i.e we have to do something significant).
He was probably doing so beforehand, but I do feel that I have injected a small sense of greater urgency into him.
I'll keep posting.
Thanks!
Glad to hear this! Keep us posted on any developments.
That's great to hear! The
That's great to hear! The key in these types of situations is to make yourself heard, but then to step back and see what they do with that info. While I want to see you suceed in your position, I would feel horrible if you got in trouble for being to pressing. I would agree that we as people with AS tend to think that we are always right. I know that I, myself think that I am a genius and wonder out-loud why everyone doesn't stop and just do things my way! :) Keep us appraised of developments as they happen.
Malcolm, I think you've done
Malcolm, I think you've done all you can for now.
I don't know what kind of business you're in but perhaps you could watch for job opportunities in other places just in case the proverbial hits the fan.