The Corporate Executive Mindset

I’m just getting unendingly tired of a certain person always assuming I haven’t considered other options before asking questions. Nine times out of ten, if someone calls for general assistance – no matter where they call in the company – the call gets routed to me because I’m “most likely to know the answer.”

Now this takes time away from my regular duties, but when it’s at the request of a higher up or from another company routed through a higher up at my company I feel especially obliged to assist. That’s how it usually comes to me. “She can figure something out for them… so let’s send it to her.” It gets it off their plate.

So why is it that when I ask them for help with someone needing general assistance or information or guidance, I get the third degree as though I haven’t considered even the simplest of options?

I sent out such an inquiry today and the boss of bosses responds by asking me if I considered my own programs to assist this person. DUH!! Hello – do you really think so little of me that you believe, rather than answering my questions, you need to question me?

I’m entirely sick of the hierarchy and politics of this place. I’m tired of being at the very bottom of the freaking food chain.

Ever since this person came into leadership this company has regularly built up executive management, added executive and other management positions, failed to promote from within, and cut base and interim level staff. This is true EXCEPT in departments that fit into the criteria of pet projects of the boss of bosses (BOB).

Recently my boss was trying – at least that’s what he tells me – to work a deal that would provide a part time assistant for me. For several years I have been a one man band with an unmanageable project load. I’m constantly promised that staff from an adjacent dept. will be available to me as support, but that’s just not the case when they have to be driven by their own departments priorites. I end up left holding the bag….full of what they’ve started but don’t have time to finish.

That deal fell through. I heard it through the freaking grapevine because he sure as hell didn't tell me. Additionally I learned that it was proposed as temporary only until I returned from maternity leave in July. So I get a much needed assistant from February until I leave in April, then that person works my whole job in 10 hours less per week through July and then suddenly I don't need the person anymore? Anyone heard of logic??

I don’t blame the support staff – they are victims of BOB and BOB’s attempt to sneak funds out of their budget to fund my dept. Victims of BOBs unwillingness to recognize the value of the work done through my dept. Because helping individuals is not quite as important as networking with the political powers of the communities.

I’m sick of having to work like that. How can they not see how wrong it is? I feel like I’m just biding my time. Nothing I do is good enough any more. If anything is wrong it must be the employee and can't possibly be the system or the company.

THINK!! You take away responsibilities from two other people, one of them a manager, give those responsibilities to me on top of all of my other work....throw in a few extra responsibilities....then wonder why I can't do it all. If the other two people couldn't do their stuff with an entire support staff, then how the hell am I supposed to do everything PLUS that by myself?

I'm so darn tired. I'm so frustrated I could literally scream. Not that it would do anygood - I'm sure BOB has earplugs in for just such occasions.

Here's praying that I get interviewed for that job, that I get offered that job, and that the job pays enough for me to make the change. Nothing would make me happier than to put my resignation on his desk and to walk away from all of this into a new and less stressful life.