Question

Topic: Career/Training

My Boss, The Vp Of Marketing, Has Lost His Verve.

Posted by Anonymous on 5/6/2008 at 12:53 PM ET 250 Points
I am the Marketing Manager for a manufacturing company that is experiencing a major downswing in profits.

My boss appears to be resigned to the fact that business is going downhill, and even though there are spurts of excitement where we brainstorm and strategize, he is the one to make the ultimate call, and he either drags his feet or abandons new ideas altogether.

He has worked for this company for 25 years. The owner lives out of state.

When I send my boss one or two reminders on certain key deadlines and tasks, and he either ignores them or he starts and then drops the ball. So, I think we end up looking bad to our customer base, and they are our feet in the street.

How do I handle this, knowing that with some strategy and long-term thinking, this company could turn around in an entirely new way? It is not like the ideas are not plentiful, They are. In addition, the brainpower is definitely here on staff. There just seems to be a mentality "to maintain" - keep things the way they are. I just do not get it. Truly, if I were the owner, I would be revamping the staff and igniting some fresh blood into the soul of the organization.

Could it be that my boss is subconsciously "letting things slide" because he is ready to go?

I appreciate your insight and even your gut instincts on what may be happening here. On a selfish note, I feel like I am being held back in my career, from a creative and management standpoint. The problem is - I have only worked here a year and need more longevity on my resume before I go elsewhere. By the way, I have 10 years of marketing experience. Thank you so much!!!

Maribelle
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Levon on 5/6/2008 at 1:13 PM Accepted
    Market conditions could be at play (limited economic growth, market shrinkage, etc.). Your product might even be at the end of its life-cycle. Maybe he is constrained by budgets and the board's final decisions on matters. See everyone has a boss. Even business owners have bosses -- often referred to as clients.

    I think you might want to take this opportunity to really take ownership of tasks and push things through so that they are nearly complete and require only his approval.

    You can have the greatest ideas in the world but without financial backing these ideas are killed.

  • Posted on 5/6/2008 at 1:26 PM Author
    Levon, thank you. I will keep taking ownership as much as I can. My boss demands that he be the one to make decisions on creative ideas, final costs, and any and all next step(s). I appreciate your encouragement!
  • Posted by Frank Hurtte on 5/6/2008 at 2:19 PM Accepted
    Maribelle,
    Yours is a difficult situation. I feel your pain. I understand that maintaining a job is important both financially and from a resume perspective.

    Here are a couple of thoughts.
    I challenge you to get inside your boss' head with a couple of questions. 1) Mr. Bossman, I appreciate your experience and wisdom on this last project. Can you help me understand why we didn't pursue it with greater resources. 2) Mr. Bossman, I notice that we didn't really develop that idea in the 3,6, or whatever month timeline that I suspected it would be done in. I would appreciate you explaining the logic behind the move.
    3) I noticed that we (you really mean the Boss) lack critical skills in implimenting some of these ideas. Do you think it would be good for my career if I learned how to handle them.

    If the answers to these very respectful questions are not responded to with warm enthusiasm. Get your resume updated.
  • Posted on 5/6/2008 at 3:26 PM Author
    Juliet and Frank and Levon -

    Wow. Thank you for your comments and ideas! I should point out that the company I work for is very small. There is my boss (VP of Sales/Marketing), a CFO, and a Director of Operations. There is not really anyone here who is my peer in terms of management level. There are women who work outside in cublicles, and I know better than to start talking to them. The rest of the employees work in the plant, and again, they have all been here 15-25 years.

    If I bring up anything resembling a new suggestion or idea, it rankles my boss. The buck stops there. However, the owner is coming for a visit next week. And today the senior management went to lunch, which they rarely do. Something is up.

    After thinking about this all morning, I have realized this is all excellent experience. I just want to be sure I am doing everything I can do to help.

    Thanks again!

    Maribelle
  • Posted by darcy.moen on 5/6/2008 at 9:11 PM Member
    Here's a thought, why not have a candid conversation with your boss and ask him to mentor you? This could accomplish three things:

    1) new marketing programs get out the door and on the street keeping the brand alive and vital.
    2) you develop new skills that will help round out your resume
    3) your boss will look good to the owners while 'grooming' you for additional responsibilities down the road.

    One never knows where this could lead. Your boss may end up promoted into a new management job (or be shown the door). You could end up with new skills and the extra time you need, or end up being promoted from within.

    Then again, it may work out for all and everyone is happy.

    Just a brain f@rt, hope it helps.

    Darcy Moen
    Customer Loyalty Network
  • Posted by michael on 5/8/2008 at 8:30 AM Member
    How's your risk avoidance index? Seriously, what can you sneak in without your boss? Or, what can you go to your boss with and say "I'll take the hit if this doesn't work".

    Some people look at a downturn and pull back in protection mode. Others actively go after the solution. The two of you are on different planets right now....but it's going to be YOU who causes movement.

    Michael
  • Posted on 5/12/2008 at 10:46 AM Author
    Thanks, EVERYONE, for all of your advice and comments. In the last year, I have proactively addressed this situation in all the ways that you recommended.

    Having only been with this company for a year, I am going to go with the flow and circulate my resume. My boss has been here 28 years, and I am not about to upstage him as he enters the twilight of his life.

    Thanks again.

    Maribelle
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