It doesn’t matter if this is the first time your organization has restructured roles, or if this is the third “re-org” in three years, change is hard. In times of transition, there isn’t always a clear road map that succinctly explains why the changes are needed, how the change is going to improve things for the company, and how it will affect you and your department. You might be worried about your job security, who will be your new boss, and what your current job title’s role and responsibilities might mean post “re-org.” All of these feelings and concerns are part of the territory when everything seems to be changing. One of the most common things we hear from candidates that are going through transition either on their team or in their company is, “This new person is going to be my boss and he/she has a reputation of (fill in the blank), and I don’t want to work for them.” How do you handle working for a new boss that has a reputation (good or bad) that precedes them, like Mark Cuban?
1. Leave
Leave. This might be the first solution you jump to in order to feel like you have some control over your fate. However, we encourage you to completely understand your circumstances before you commit your mindset to leaving. Should your company decide not to maintain your position or employment, they will likely give you a severance package or some sort of compensation. If you leave before the layoffs occur, and you don’t have a new job, you will miss out on the exit compensation provided by the company, and will also have the stress of looking for a new job.
2. Stay
Staying might feel risky, and if you’re up for a promotion that is unlikely to materialize, it might feel like you have nothing to lose if you leave, and feel like it’s the wisest choice. However, if you’re at the point where you’re being considered for a promotion, you’re likely viewed as someone who has leadership potential and/or value within the organization. Your position post “re-org” might be even better than the promotion you were about to receive. Another thing to consider when deciding on where to take your career is the length of time you’ve been at your current employer. If you’ve been at your current company for less than a year, you’ve got an additional reason to consider staying (especially if your previous position only lasted a year or two). Anything you can do to prevent a potential employer from viewing you as a “job hopper” is a route you’ll want to take. According to a survey of 1,500 recruiters performed by the Bullhorn Software Company, 39 percent of recruiters report a history of “hopping jobs” is a candidate’s single biggest hurdle to getting hired.
3. Use this as an opportunity
What if you weren’t up for a promotion and didn’t feel like your work was setting you apart from your team members? This is an opportunity to work for someone new and make your mark. While your boss has a reputation that precedes him or her, you likely have one too. This is your opportunity to live up to and exceed your reputation if it’s glowing, or a chance for you to make a name for yourself if the “word on the street” about you is less flattering. A stellar performance for this new boss will likely wipe away any previous notion about your capabilities and could set you up for future success.
4. Learn
Fast forward. You’ve spent six months working for your new boss and they’ve been the best six months you’ve spent at your company. You might have thought you liked your old boss, but the experience and projects you’re working on now are really amazing. Why did you think your old boss was so great? Why is this boss so much better? This situation allows you to have an important point of comparison. You thought you were happy before, but that doesn’t compare to the actual joy you’ve experienced just coming to work over the last six months. Ask yourself why. Learn from the experience, and mimic the traits that your new boss displays that your old boss might not have had. This is incredibly valuable because as you progress further in a leadership role in your career, you can take the best traits of both bosses and put them to work for you as you lead. The converse learning here is that the last six months have been horrible, and you want to leave right now. Before you run screaming from the building, look at the silver lining here too. If you think about how you feel right now, you’ll do everything in your power to make sure that you never treat an employee the way you feel you’ve been treated. Yes, it’s probably been painful, but you’ll be able to learn from this experience and ultimately have the opportunity to be a better leader.
5. Teach
If you’re a more senior member of your current team before the “re-org,” you will likely have the unique position of not only being able to continue to teach your younger team members, but you’ll likely have to teach your boss a thing or two as well. If you take a humble approach to teaching your new boss what he or she doesn’t know, you will likely earn the role as an “expert” on your team. While this might result in you feeling like you should be running the show from time to time, think about the challenges your boss is likely facing during this transition. You might find your new role as a teacher far more enjoyable than leading your team through all the bumps of a transition.
When a new boss takes the reins, one of two things typically occurs. As an employee, you determine that your new boss is great, maybe even better than your old boss, and you can understand why they are leading your new team. Or, you gave this person the benefit of the doubt, helped your new boss with the hurdles he or she was encountering, and you are ready to move on. No matter what decision you make, be sure you understand the full picture before you do anything that can’t be undone. Even if your new boss has a reputation as well-known as Mark Cuban (we’re sure he’s got people who want to work for him, and those that don’t), don’t let the fear of the unknown drive your career decision making process. Weigh all the factors, talk to your mentor, and proceed in the direction that you think is best for you!