Should I stay or should I go now? Is it really supposed to be this hard?

[Overwhelmed]

Have name changed (hope it works!) because I've posted a few things on here before about my work and where I live and don't want to be caught out.

I started a new job last summer after a long time in my previous job, where I think I was well respected. It was a very strange place from the off, but I thought, "oh well, I've got lots to learn, new ways of doing things etc". At Christmas my boss left (thank god!) the Area Director went on long term leave and I became head of my section. I now manage two people. If their capability to do the job was the only problem I had, things wouldn't be too bad and I'd call it a challenge / good experience in my first proper management job. I'm about to have to start a disciplinary procedure against one for sheer incompetence and there are capability issues with the other, I'm getting a lot of questions about stuff he's done.

We've also recently had a new Operations Manager start and it's steadily becoming apparent that many of the other managers are incompetent (I'd previously thought I just didn't understand) and it will take months of hard grind to get it all sorted. We've got head office breathing down our neck, we're the black sheep of the whole UK.

Now, I'm SURE it's not me any more. I did for a while, and just put it down to my having lots to learn. I'm getting a bit of positive feedback for my own stuff but it's just so hard to keep my head above water. I'm spending so much time managing my two team members, there are so many cans of worms left by my previous boss and the wider regional office is being uncovered as "challenging" which causes me more direct problems. (Spot the understatement there!)

Do I stay with it and try to learn from it (running myself ragged in the meantime?)

Or do I jump ship.

Basically, is it possible to have a first rung management job without so much stress? Am I being unrealistic?

[WideWebWitch]

Hello.

The trouble with having a team of fkwits at your disposal is that you spend a LOT of time instilling basic principles and dealing with bullshit and it distracts you from the bigger picture and what you're trying to achieve, I find.

I'll tell you what I'd do in your position. I'd compile a list of every single issue you have uncovered. It can be a simple list but for example item 1 might be "capability issues with x" and you might put a consequence or explanation column to explain what the effects are so "workload is not completed and £ are not whatever" - quantify the problem. Then, if you have ideas about what can be done to solve any of them, consider these. It might be more complex that that, you might nee d aproject plan for each issue or some of them might belong to another area/owner so it's not something you can directly control but you can bring it to your director's attention. I would also number each issue and add an owner if there is one.

I think this could be your chance to shine. And you're new so the problems are NOT your fault so you can come along, tell them how bad it is and tell them what you think they need to do to sort it out. So don't even think about defending yourself, I think you should get all the problems out in the open at as senior a level as you can along with any suggestions you have for fixing those you know about.

Don't run yourself ragged. Be realistic about how big the problems is and how long it will take to fix. Tell the senior people this stuff. They will want to know and may thank you for it. And if they don't, you've lost nothing and can leave. but I bet they're pleased to hear from someone who understands the problems and can help them fix them.

Good luck. If I know you (don't recognise you!) do email meif you wnat to.

[Overwhelmed]

Thanks WWW. I know you're right about what needs to be done, it just seems like such an uphill task and especially when there are so many people with performance issues around. I'm no great leader and wonder if I'm really up to it.

I'm still keeping an eye out on the job pages. There's got to be an easier way to earn a living...

[Overwhelmed]

And today I started disciplinary procedings against a member of staff.

Oh how I'm loving this

All you people out there who've managed staff for years. Do you just get used to the unpleasant bits???