Snr. Management - what do you do?

[Scabutz]

This is a genuine post, I'm not trolling.

Few months back I started a new role at a new company. It was a step up, I went from managing a team to managing people who manage teams, I have 5 direct reports, with about 40 people under them. The thing is, I have nothing to do. There are processes in place that broadly work, sure they could use some tweaks but that's it. My managers are all competent and just get on with it.

I've asked my boss what my objectives are and hes just said I need to make sure they are delivering what they they are supposed to. Which seemingly they already are.

Not to sound glib but is this what senior management is? I feel like I'm adding nothing by being there. I'm paid a lot of money, that's not willy waving. But if a company is paying that sort of money they sure must think they are getting something.

Do I need to be more proactive? I don't really want to be one of those managers that changes stuff for the sake of it.

[Arklight]

Shh, don't let the secret out and spoil it for the rest of us

[Lotus Notes]

Printing, do lots of printing...

[Doofus]

You're taking responsibility for the people below you and whether or not they are doing their job.

But in truth, you apparently workfor a large company, and therefore no, you aren't adding anything, and neither are 60% of the people who work there.

So, as above, just keep your head down. It's what your boss is doing, and so is theirs.

[deggles]

Scabutz said:

My managers are all competent and just get on with it.

Are you sure? What are they hiding from you?

There are generally fkwits at every level in every organisation. To paraphrase Warren Buffet, if you’ve been there a while and still don’t know who they are… it be might you.

Only kidding. Sounds like a sweet gig.

[WindyCommon]

You should be working hard to take your boss’s job.

[NumBMW]

Not that I’m senior management, but I’ve always been told that whatever position you are in, just make your bosses job easier, and you’ll do alright.

So just show an interest in what they are up to, have plenty of 1-2-1s with them, and take some work of them every now and then.

[Muzzer79]

Scabutz said:

This is a genuine post, I'm not trolling.

Few months back I started a new role at a new company. It was a step up, I went from managing a team to managing people who manage teams, I have 5 direct reports, with about 40 people under them. The thing is, I have nothing to do. There are processes in place that broadly work, sure they could use some tweaks but that's it. My managers are all competent and just get on with it.

I've asked my boss what my objectives are and hes just said I need to make sure they are delivering what they they are supposed to. Which seemingly they already are.

Not to sound glib but is this what senior management is? I feel like I'm adding nothing by being there. I'm paid a lot of money, that's not willy waving. But if a company is paying that sort of money they sure must think they are getting something.

Do I need to be more proactive? I don't really want to be one of those managers that changes stuff for the sake of it.

I have a similar situation in terms of stepping up.

You are there to develop people and the business, you’re not there to run it day to day.

Your managers are there to run it day to day and do the “work”

You should be looking longer term. What areas of the business needs work? Where is it heading in the longer term? What do your team need to step up to your level, or step sideways if they want to? How could they improve? They can’t be perfect.

You shouldn’t look to make changes for the sake of it, but there must be areas or people that need improvement.
Remember - if it’s ticking along, its standing still so it’s technically moving backwards whilst everything else moves forwards.....

[ninepoint2]

Secret is employ people better than you then delegate. Learn how to speak management bullst at appropriate meetings, take the money and hope you don't get found out on Pistonheads during working hours

[blueg33]

Wait until something goes wrong! Then you may find out that it’s not always easy.

I would make sure I am all over what the team is doing.

Do you have budget responsibility? Should you be looking for ways to grow the business?

[Lee540]

I’m in the role where you used to be and my manager is where you are now.. he says the same.

He just thinks of way to break stuff, cause disruption to try and improve processes and if it fails then continue business as normal but if it succeeds then he looks like a hero.

[Abbott]

What business are you in? Do you have P&L responsibility? Sounds to me like you need to set in place some targets and deliverables. You could always cut the workforce (costs) by -30% and see if every one is still happily delivering

[Rewe]

Scabutz said:

I've asked my boss what my objectives are and hes just said I need to make sure they are delivering what they they are supposed to. Which seemingly they already are.

Not to sound glib but is this what senior management is? I feel like I'm adding nothing by being there.

Do I need to be more proactive? I don't really want to be one of those managers that changes stuff for the sake of it.

Congratulations on your promotion, but surely you have some idea of what you should be doing? What did you say you would add during the interview?

[Scabutz]

Rewe said:

Congratulations on your promotion, but surely you have some idea of what you should be doing? What did you say you would add during the interview?

Wasnt asked. It wasnt clear from the interview process what the role would be, I assumed it would become clear once I started.

[Peter911]

Multiply it by 300 and heh presto, public sector

[Scabutz]

blueg33 said:

Wait until something goes wrong! Then you may find out that it’s not always easy.

I would make sure I am all over what the team is doing.

Do you have budget responsibility? Should you be looking for ways to grow the business?

Nope, no budget. No P&L. Its IT. Deliver what the business asks of us.

I think partly I need to get used to a slower burn, my prior role was hands on so I had a busy day doing things and management activities formed a tiny part. Whereas here all I have is management stuff. Yes there is some strategic stuff that needs looking at but that's not going to involve me doing loads of work.

Need to arrange lots of meetings I guess to pass the time

[Scabutz]

deggles said:

Are you sure? What are they hiding from you?

There are generally fkwits at every level in every organisation. To paraphrase Warren Buffet, if you’ve been there a while and still don’t know who they are… it be might you.

Only kidding. Sounds like a sweet gig.

I had meetings with all their subordinates to get then to tell me all the problems their managers were hiding. Nothing came from that I couldn't already see.

[CrayonPark]

Given your cluelessness and apparent lack of dynamism, making it this far is quite an achievement. Bravo!

You’re the kind of bloke who falls asleep in a Chinese brothel and wakes up with an extra kidney.

[Scabutz]

CrayonPark said:

Given your cluelessness and apparent lack of dynamism, making it this far is quite an achievement. Bravo!

You’re the kind of bloke who falls asleep in a Chinese brothel and wakes up with an extra kidney.

Thanks, I think.

[NewNameNeeded]

Scabutz said:

Its IT. Deliver what the business asks of us.

Have you sat with your customers to understand what they need, and how your teams are performing against those requirements? I routinely see a big disconnect between IT and the business.