My therapists always said that I should say truth about my feelings, on the other hand I’ve heard from many people that I often say things that I should not, so I’m asking here.
A few years ago I took over a team that does The Thing at a large organization (this is Europe, not US). I was told to fire the guy (Other Manager) who led it from remote, but I kept him as my deputy, ops manager, while I focused on implementing the changes that were required. I strived for building a team where people would feel valued for their work, and rules were clear and fair. It seems I succeeded, they pay was bad but instead of leaving for better positions, people took second jobs in their spare time.
After three years I had to go on three month medical leave for burnout, depression and generalized anxiety.
After I got back, there was new board, and I was demoted to an expert, with the Other Manager becoming the team manager. He actually came to talk about it with me and stated upfront that from his side nothing changes, I’m the strategy and expert guy, he manages ops. I was OK with it.
After another board change, the Other Manager got promoted to the position of VCTTO (Vice Chief The Thing Officer) and he put the Analyst that I have personally hired and mentored as acting manager of the team. The organization finally has money as opposed to my time where there was no budget for anything.
I learned that there is open recruitment for the team manager. I then went to the VCTTO (my ex-deputy) to ask him if it even makes sense for me to submit my resume for the job offer to be considered. He said the board is looking for someone from outside able to crack the whip, and I should not even try because of something slightly embarrassing (that didn’t really happen) that we joked about as a team before. Something like "the board doesn’t want a dude who spills his coffee constantly". The proper thing to say in MBA-speak at this point would be "the board is looking for someone with a different leadership style", yet he used a personal jab at me.
There are Places that you can’t get into until you are high enough in hierarchy and aren’t backed by an institution. I was seconded to the Places sometimes in the previous jobs and that was it, this is what I really want to do. Now I’m stuck at doing expert things that I hate.
I then learned that VCTTO and the Analyst are getting sent to do something at one Place (that costs money) as managers. Finally, they’re gonna hire the crack whipper with the money the org now has, and he’s gonna fuck up everything I spent more than four years building, and with him and VCCTO going Places. I just don’t want to have to witness that. And I’m starting to have a resentment for the Analyst, and I liked them as I person and I don’t want that resentment to grow either. I’m looking for a job rn.
WIBTA, when giving my notice of leave I would explain that I just don’t want to have to watch others benefitting on four years of my work while I’m stuck doing dead end tasks?
It looks like you have missed a few opportunities to promotion, the job gave you ” … three month medical leave for burnout, depression and generalized anxiety …”. Something doesn’t fit, but it doesn’t look like you have a future there, and being resentful and so focused on individuals doesn’t help.
Find another job, quit for “better opportunities” and say little else.