[Anonymous]

Let’s say that you are completely fed up with your job (or at least a vast majority of the job) and have decided that as nice as your management has been to you, they have just piled on too much work. What I mean by that is that they have piled on too many major functions, each with overlapping busy seasons and deadlines. The net result, you can’t take a PTO day or a vacation without it being interrupted. So you have decided to leave.

THEN

Up on your calendar pops an invitation from the CFO’s secretary (I’m talking CFO of a Fortune 50 company) for yourself and three others to join him for lunch. During said lunch you are told that the Senior Management is in the process of succession planning for several key people who will likely retire in the near future and that the people at the table are not ON the short list but ARE the list of key talent that is to be developed.

What do you do? There are of course, no guarantees of time periods, positions, etc. with the CFO’s statement. But at the same time, nor do I have any doubts about his sincerity.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I'd suck it up and stick with it. I would hope that the fact that they brought people in for a lunch would mean they're seriously considering their plan for the next few years. I wouldn't think (well, would hope) they would tell you if there plans were not for the somewhat near future. It seems like too good an opportunity to leave right now. They have obviously recognized your talents.

However, if you stay and haven't heard anything after some time, and are still fed up with your job, then maybe it becomes time to reconsider. Only you can decide how long you want to stay without additional discussions.

[Anonymous]

In my experience, people who get worked piled on them or are constantly working extra hours tend to do that by unconscious choice, and will continue to do that if they leave for another company.

I recommend solving your workload issues, then reevaluate your situation before just jumping to another company.

[teeteenounouche]

I say go for it and wait to see what they offer you! Your pay off for those long hours and hard work is coming. If you don't like the offer, you can always keep looking elsewhere.

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[Kimboroni]

That's great!

It's time to delegate some of that work to other people– that's an important skill to develop as you move up.

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[mla1169]

I think I'd take a look at the position that is the next logical step in your company (i.e. your direct supervisor, because its possible but unlikely you would leapfrog over him or her). Think about that position at great length…

Does the position seem better suited to your lifestyle or do you see your direct supervisor also having too much work? Is he or she able to take time off without interruption? Does he or she work a million hours a week? Is he or she always fried or generally pretty content?

If you think you'd be genuinely happy in the next position up from your current position, stick around a bit and see what happens. But if you look up the chain and think “glad I'm not him or her” then look elsewhere.

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[taxman89]

you should definitely wait it out a bit anyway. its rare to get a face to face with CFO in a big company. imo it shows they are seriously (tho “plans” also seem to take forever at a big company.)

“In my experience, people who get worked piled on them or are constantly working extra hours tend to do that by unconscious choice”

lol good grief that is so wrong its almost funny. in my experience (big company) people get increased workload for a couple reasons (none of which are unconscious choice….that's what people say who dump their work on others so they can leave at 5 on the money ). 1 reason is they are testing for promotion. seems like you company threw a ton of crap at you to see how you handled the stress and workload and you came through with flying colors (hence the CFO meeting). 2 If you happen to have multiple managers that can give you workload then you can inadvertently end up with a ton of work (and the managers dont realize it because talked to each other is hard.) this reason sucks more because there is no payoff 😀 lol

anyway…i would stick it out for a bit and see if you see progress toward the succession plan, but i definitely think the CFO meeting is a big deal

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[Kimboroni]

Sometimes the excess/mistimed workload comes from not knowing how to say “no” when people give you more work to do, or if “no” isn't an option, figuring out a way to take on the more advanced work and find someone else to take over the less advanced work. That isn't always easy– another skill to develop.

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[taxman89]

“find someone else to take over the less advanced work” only if you are actually in a management position and have people under you do delegate your work to. if you are “finding” coworkers to do you $hit work than you are just being a bad coworker

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[Kimboroni]

If they are being groomed for management and don't have anyone to delegate to, then maybe they *should* have people to delegate to. “Finding” as in locating the appropriate people within the firm, or hiring new, whatever the case is.

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[taxman89]

A new hire is mostly a different thing. When I said coworker i meant someone who is same level as you (ie both staff or both senior etc etc) if you are the same level as someone it is not really your call to decide that you are more important and your $hit work should be done by them (regardless of if you are being groomed for management)

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[Kimboroni]

agreed

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[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies all.

I now have three people under me, I could use about 5 more. My company and boss have been very good to me but like most companies, they pile on the work to those who are the ‘doers' and I'm just one of those people who cannot let something go undone.

It's definitely a good thing, the CFO meeting. The position my company is in is that much of our ‘elite' Senior Management and board are all close to retirement, so they are doing the succession planning. It's great to be named in the crowd–not that I think the boardroom is anywhere near in my future. I think I'll stick around and see if good things develop….some nice financial incentives would be nice (aka LOTS and lots of stock) 😀

[Author]

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