Need Advice on Pursuing a Promotion

[danbrook]

I am a unit supervisor in an office with 29 employees. I supervise nine employees. I have been a supervisor for almost four years. I have been with my employer for 18 years. Recently, the manager of a nearby office retired. Several people, including two of my former managers and my current manager, are encouraging me to put in for the position. A couple of people who should know tell me the job is mine if I put in for it. The office I would be managing has 15 employees – it is about half the size of the office where I currently work. However, as long as I can remember, it has been a poor performing office. The position would come with lots more stress and responsibility and only $3000 more per year. I just can't decide if it's worth it. The commuting distance would be the same.

I have spent all of my 18 years in the same office, which is very unusual for my profession. And it's not necessarily a good thing. I'm become accustomed to the same thing day after day and reluctant to seek change. If not putting in for the job is simply fear of change, then I think I should put in for it. If I'm truly concerned about the stress and whether success is possible, then I can be content to wait for another opportunity. However, I'm not extremely mobile and these opportunities don't come open very often – really only when someone retires. All of my peers expect me to move up and I fear that if I don't make the move now, people will stop considering me because I've been doing the same thing in the same place for too long. If you can't tell from my rambling, I'm stressing myself out over this! Everyone I talk to thinks I'm crazy for thinking twice about it. So, I'm putting it out on a forum where people with nothing at stake can talk some sense to me! I have three days to make a decision.

Thanks for any advice.

DBC

[PaulLubic]

DBC, You are correct to give this move some thought, it's a big step for you. I detect that you're not sure you can turn the new office around and therefore fail, that's a natural feeling to have. However, I think you should take the position for these reasons:
1. You've got the experience, lots of it, in a successful office and you'll bring lots of best practices and knowledge of how that office runs to the new position.
2. You'll be surprised that you won't have to come up with any "lightning bolt" ideas to be successful. You just need to implement the processes and practices you've used successfully in the last 18 years. You'll be a hero!
3. When you turn the new office around you'll be noticed for doing so big-time by your superiors all the way to the corporate office.
4. Stepping out of your current office's "comfort zone" will be a little scary at first, but the sense of accomplishment you'll get from succeeding in the new office will make you very very happy.

All the best,
Paul

[dlturner85]

This situation shouldn't require as much thought as you might think.
First this is a chance for you to prove what you've learned and what you know. A challenge? Yes, but managing a new group of people always has a learning curve. From my personal experience managing 107 employees for a multi million dollar company. When starting this new position you should make shure that you keep things in the black and white for the most part. Like what you expect in productivity, accountability, and standard operating procedures.
Also you need to focus on the things that you can control not the things you can't.
Making this move is a great opportunity because it is going to allow you to grow as a person and will enable you to make a positive impact on this business.
check out! http://mrturnerservices.com