Anyone ever have anxiety of not being good enough at work?
Discussion
I went from a lab based (drug discovery) role in a big Pharma company to a regulatory role within the same company via a 12 month secondment.
Now, because I had been in the company for quite a while and reached a reasonably senior scientific position (and associated grade), I was moved across to my regulatory role at the same grade (and seniority). I've now secured a permanent role (as my lab job was moved to a different location).
To say I'm busking it is a massive understatement........
I treat it as a learning experience, the worse that is going to happen is that I can't do the job and I start looking for a science based role that I know I can do.
Now, because I had been in the company for quite a while and reached a reasonably senior scientific position (and associated grade), I was moved across to my regulatory role at the same grade (and seniority). I've now secured a permanent role (as my lab job was moved to a different location).
To say I'm busking it is a massive understatement........
I treat it as a learning experience, the worse that is going to happen is that I can't do the job and I start looking for a science based role that I know I can do.
768 said:
I worry more about whether I can do the job of the muppets around me as well as my own. 
Haha I have to pick up stuff from my colleagues around me. It feels like I'm carrying the team, at times.So I got the job!
For me, my current role is senior, as is new one. It's essentially the same job, but where the worry comes in is:
- Working for a company which is very formal in IT processes and the applications I look after are P1, profit-generating. So expectations are higher, standards are higher.
- Current company is not like this.
- In current job, I don't really have any expectations to manage. I really do as I please, for myself. This is a type of skill to learn, which you cannot buy, and being senior, you need to master expectation management.
- Maybe new job is a step too far in complexity Maybe it is too fast paced?
At the same time, I've said to myself I'd like a challenge, to be in the deep-end, to have expectations to manage, in my current job. Now the opportunity has come.
Edited by Z064life on Saturday 20th May 13:41
Don't worry, seriously. I went through network engineer, IT manager, IT director. CIO (3 roles) now CEO of a small tech company.
Firstly, avoid the effect of cumulative arse covering. Your lower tier guys will tell their team leader something, 10% gets added each time it goes up a layer. You'll find you're being asked for a budget of 10K for a 3K thing. I prefer to bring together the actual people who know, not rely on reporting/budgeting "up the line". If you don't avoid this problem, you'll always be telling your boss or management team that everything is harder, more expensive or more will take longer than it will. It's all about credibility.
Second, be honest. If you're in a meeting and you don't know the answer, don't be afraid to say so. Give a specific time/date by which you'll get the answer. Then damn well meet that date.
Third, remember this rule: everything you tell someone above you will be used to present to the next layer up, often poorly filtered. Help your boss to do his job, give him clear information, neatly summarised, and don't try to impress with your command of detail. You will know the detail, because that's where you came from, and you'll end up looking like a promoted techie not a manager
Fourth, your employees are grown ups. When you delegate a task or project, make sure they understand what/when and how (if you must), then get any barriers out of their way and expect them to do it. Don't micro-manage, don't have them report every 5 minutes on progress. Make your expectations clear. You can ask for their best estimate if you don't know exactly what to expect, then have them commit to that. They should be their own SMEs, so don't try to do their job for them.
Finally, everyone thinks IT is easy because they have the internet and a PC at home, so how hard can it be? Get their focus off the technology and onto the business stuff like the SLA they need (you don't really need 99.9% on the internal intranet do you?), the cost/performance compromises, the process, and data quality. I can't stress that last one enough. Any system is as good as the data.
That's enough for now. Good luck!
Firstly, avoid the effect of cumulative arse covering. Your lower tier guys will tell their team leader something, 10% gets added each time it goes up a layer. You'll find you're being asked for a budget of 10K for a 3K thing. I prefer to bring together the actual people who know, not rely on reporting/budgeting "up the line". If you don't avoid this problem, you'll always be telling your boss or management team that everything is harder, more expensive or more will take longer than it will. It's all about credibility.
Second, be honest. If you're in a meeting and you don't know the answer, don't be afraid to say so. Give a specific time/date by which you'll get the answer. Then damn well meet that date.
Third, remember this rule: everything you tell someone above you will be used to present to the next layer up, often poorly filtered. Help your boss to do his job, give him clear information, neatly summarised, and don't try to impress with your command of detail. You will know the detail, because that's where you came from, and you'll end up looking like a promoted techie not a manager
Fourth, your employees are grown ups. When you delegate a task or project, make sure they understand what/when and how (if you must), then get any barriers out of their way and expect them to do it. Don't micro-manage, don't have them report every 5 minutes on progress. Make your expectations clear. You can ask for their best estimate if you don't know exactly what to expect, then have them commit to that. They should be their own SMEs, so don't try to do their job for them.
Finally, everyone thinks IT is easy because they have the internet and a PC at home, so how hard can it be? Get their focus off the technology and onto the business stuff like the SLA they need (you don't really need 99.9% on the internal intranet do you?), the cost/performance compromises, the process, and data quality. I can't stress that last one enough. Any system is as good as the data.
That's enough for now. Good luck!
I'm glad i found this post, as i was about to ask the same. I've just been offered a new job. Its closer to home (like 10 mins by bike rather than 1hr by car), 10-20k payrise, health plan, new role, room to grow and develop, everything is too perfect. When they told me the job spec i almost giggled as its exactly what i do now, but in an easier environment!
its all too great, there's this nagging feeling that actually i'm in way over my head and I'll get found out at any minute!
its all too great, there's this nagging feeling that actually i'm in way over my head and I'll get found out at any minute!
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