LarryHoover profile picture
LarryHoover profile picture

LarryHoover

Expansion AE

Big Shot
Valued Contributor
Executive
+3

Office Politics


I have been working as a full cycle rep on the new business team at my company for almost 3 years. In 2022, I ended in the Top 5 sellers in NAM and for 2023 I’m in the Top 10 again. 

In January I started actively working with my Directors on being promoted (either an Enterprise AE or a mid market Growth Executive).

Currently I’m one of the most senior managers in the new business org and am ~5-7 years older than everyone on my team and it makes sense for me to move on.  

I’m expected to be in office 4-5x a week and to attend team events 2x a month - my manager is not very understanding of me not participating etc. 

Needless to say my lifestyle does not align with the young culture on my team so a goal of mine has been to work full remote and be on a team with those who have similar home lives. 
 
Recently I’ve been in somewhat of a rut and feeling pretty burned out. My managers are in the loop and have noticed that I’ve felt off…

So, yesterday I had a conversation with one of the managers on the Growth team who told me they would match the base of an AE and I could be fully remote, so the opportunity is pretty appealing for me and have decided that I want to transfer there. 

But first I needed to speak with my current manager and that conversation did not go too well. Manager gave a lot of pushback and BS bandaid solutions like “watching motivational videos” and the potential of “a bit more flexibility with wfh.” 

Today I found out my manager spoke to their boss (who oversees the AE org) and are really holding their ground. They essentially said no to the transfer because they don’t want to lose me from the new business org even when they know how I’ve been feeling etc. 

Myself and the Growth team want to solve this amicably but if my current bosses (who I thought had my back and would help me transfer) are still holding strong by end of week we are planning to let HR resolve the issue. 

This has turned into a bit of a cluster f*ck… I love working here but now I have a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to my manager and I’m worried if this doesn’t pan out, I’ll be in an awkward position with my current team.

I was under the impression my manager would support me but I guess that’s naive of me.

Are they able to block me from transferring teams? In need of some advice here. 

🧠 Advice
🎯 Career Development
😤 Conflict Resolution
29

24 comments

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oldcloser
Arsonist
18
💀
Yes, they can refuse to transfer you. Yes, they can shit on your career and your well-being. It’s really unfortunate they’re that short-sighted. Your being “off” lately is quiet quitting. You’ve started to resign already. I suspect that if they continue to hold you hostage, you’ll continue the quitting and resign.

My feeling? They should be good enough at what they do to recognize this. And they should protect company assets by letting you go and grow. If this isn’t the result, you’re gonna have to split. Sorry to hear this. Best of luck navigating it. You seem to have your priorities right. ✊
jefe
Arsonist
6
🍁
This is all extremely on point, unfortunately. Also one of the only times I've seen 'quiet quitting' used and not seem gen-z buzzwordy and holier than thou.
@LarryHoover I hope you can navigate this and get to where you want to be.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
5
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Extremely well said.
They're going to lose you entirely if they don't let you transfer. It doesn't appear that they've realized that yet.
AnchorPoint
Politicker
1
Business Coach
nailed it.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
9
🦊
I agree with Oldcloser. You have quiet quit. I'd be looking a for a job elsewhere on the down low right now.
SportsSalesGuy
Tycoon
7
Enterprise Account Executive
Try the HR route man thats what they are their for. Let them do their jobs (for once lol). I would also start looking elsewhere just in case.
DataCorrupter
Politicker
6
Account Executive
Agreed with this. I'd give it one more shot with your current manager, just to get him to see reason (maybe he's warmed to the idea or reassessed it all), and to cover your ass. If you go with olive branch in hand again, and he still shits on the idea, then you will know (and so will everyone else) that you did what you could and the guy is just unreasonable. It's kinda dark, but just think about how big of an asshole that makes him look.

After that, I'd try HR, it's literally their job.
braintank
Politicker
5
Enterprise Account Executive
You could go hardcore and say: give me this job (i've earned) or i don't see a future here...
Pachacuti
Politicker
4
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Sounds like your needs and theirs don’t align.

It’s too bad you aren’t being graded by results alone. Thats why I hate offices.

You either need to find the sweet spot for office appearances or find a new job.
GDO
Politicker
1
BDM
always awful if the incentives do not align with each other
LarryHoover
Big Shot
3
Expansion AE
I appreciate everyone’s feedback here. Definitely good to know I’m not crazy or in the wrong because I was starting to think I may have made a mistake. I even began looking through my SFDC records and thought to myself “damn now i have to give up all of these accounts I’ve gathered over the years?” Really sentimental about my pipeline haha

I brought up the quiet quitting scenario to the Growth team and the Management layer just told me “If they said that - we’d say fine… send him to us 🤣” so that made me feel a bit better.

Justatitle
Big Shot
3
Account Executive
TLDR; I stay out of office politics as much as possible. Just not worth it. Either deal with it or find a new role elsewhere. Just the blunt truth.
3
I agree with OldCloser. You remained silent. I need less work this time.
Chep
WR Officer
3
Bitcoin Adoption Specialist
Follow your heart and start applying now if it tells you things aren't working out
Diablo
Politicker
2
Sr. AE
Looks like they have the authority beyond your control. Hope this pass on a good note.
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
1
Account Executive
I hope HR will actually help you v trying to screw you over.

People want to hold someone back because they are so good, but they are already trying to make you leave with this attitude.

Please let us know how it ends up getting resolved. Thankfully, you have tons of data towards your exceptional work ethic, and you have higher managers trying to go to bay for you as well.
farmtocity
Opinionated
1
SDR Manager
Tell them to transfer you or you will have to actively start looking for other opportunities. Do you really want to work there after that possibility of being transfered ripped from you? No you don't. Either they give you want you want or you leave.
lajefa
Good Citizen
1
Enterprise Account Executive
If they are actively sabotaging you then it's time to move on. You already said your lifestyle doesn't match what they are asking for. Regardless of the reason they are hindering your professional growth.
Would you stay friends with someone that sabotaged you in your personal life? No? Then don't stand for it on the job. They will treat you how you allow them to.
lajefa
Good Citizen
1
Enterprise Account Executive
To add: If your manager isn't supporting you in growing, they're terrible at managing people. Really, this is People Skills 101. Support people in their growth. If they block you from this, what else will they stop you from?
MrAnderson
Executive
0
AE
Sorry for this, happened to me at my last company. I didn't align with my manager and asked HR to move me to another position.....they never came through.

Hope your case is different.

Just curious, what position are you aiming at the growth team?
DefaultSalesDude
Executive
0
Director
My company is notorious for doing this and actually have rules for how long you have to be in a role before you can transfer. Def go the HR route but you need to understand, HR is ACTUALLY there to do what's best for the company, not you as an individual. It sounds like your current boss is kinda a dbag so just be straight with him. If he blocks this, you'll have to question if this organization is the right fit for you long term and his commitment to you as being a leader you can rally behind. If they block you, it will only poison the relationship with your current leader so I would start looking external and I wouldn't be afraid to insinuate that. Good luck!
pcaliii
Personal Narrative
0
Account Executive
Work for yourself and you will never worry about office politics that make zero sense.
Hitthabricks
Executive
0
Enterprise Account Executive
I’d start looking elsewhere AND confirm with Growth leadership that HR can actually help you with this. The last thing you want is to get on new biz bad side and not be able to move to Growth. I’d also test the waters externally just in case.
ChumpChange
Politicker
0
Channel Manager
Doing what's best for the business does not correlate to what's best for you. There are clearly other dynamics at play that are not factoring in your concerns.

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