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OK, let's say you have decided you want the position of manager in the department you work in. You go in and tell the president on the company you're interested in the job, and are a bit surprised that he expects you to go through the application process just like anyone else. After all, you figured you were a natural for the job, a virtual shoo-in, given your long years with the company, and all the people in the office who expect you to get it, but what the heck, if that's how the game is played, fine. You dust off your resume and go in for an interview. You've looked over the competition, and figure you've got nothing to worry about. The other candidates are all retreads, has-beens, or flakes with no real chance. One of the other applicants is a new guy that just started with the company, so green he's still got egg shell stuck to his back. Should be no problem blowing by the whole field, and you can start measuring the manager's office for drapes any day now.
You get your first nasty shock when you realize that the executive committee starts taking a shine to the newbie, and it begins to look like he may actually give you a run for your money. So you shift gears a little bit, and start throwing some elbows to get him out of the way. You make a few disparaging remarks about his lack of experience, and you look the other way when your loyal lackeys spread nasty rumors about him. After all, this is a cut-throat business, and if the new kid can't play the game a little rough, well, he sure won't last long as a manager.
Frustratingly, your strategy begins to backfire, and your tactics just end up making you look bad, so you try yet another tack. You make what seems, to you, to be a very generous offer: if he'll withdraw his name from consideration, why, you'll agree to consider naming him as you assistant manager. Then, when you've moved on to bigger and better things, maybe he'll have a chance to succeed you. Only, he's not flattered. He laughs in your face. He laughs!
So if that's the way he wants to play the game, fine. Gloves are off now, buddy. You let loose with every dirty trick you've picked up in your long career. You start hinting that maybe someone from another department would be better than the new guy, and your loyal friends are now saying that if the new guy gets the job, they'll quit!
But, dammit, nothing seems to work! You hang around, haranguing the members of the executive committee, demanding to be taken seriously long after it's clear they're going to pass you over. And now, horror of horrors, the job has been posted, the new guy has gotten the promotion instead of you, and now he's in his new office unloading his desk set and hanging up pictures of his family. Meanwhile you're still strutting around pretending you're still the best one for the job he's already got! How are you supposed to face your friends after they've threatened to walk out for you?
Then it hits you. Maybe he would agree to designate you as his assistant! That way you could still save face, your friends would agree not to quit, and you'd be in a perfect position to take over as manager when he's moved on.
Here's the problem: How do you go about making that happen, given everything else that's already happened?
First of all, you have to admit that you didn't get the job you wanted. You can't very well convince the new guy to take you on when you're still claiming that the executive committee is going to come to its senses any day now and give you the manager's job after all.
Second, you've got to understand that you will not be the only applicant for the number two slot. That whole inevitability thing didn't work out so well the first time, so don't be surprised when demanding that he hire you doesn't work out so well.
Next, realize that, unlike the manager's position, the assistant's job doesn't get decided by the exec committee. There's only one guy who makes the decision about who to take on, and it's the same guy you've been slamming around for months. It may turn out he's got a thicker skin than you gave him credit for, and he may very well be willing to forgive and forget, but the expiration date for that shit is right now. He's not likely to hire you to cover his back if he's worried that you're going to turn around and stab him in it.
Finally, you've got to get the rest of your team on board. You need to let it be known that you and they will be loyal to their new boss, regardless of his final decision, and you've got to mean it. No reservations. I guarantee you if you decide to burn down the office and bolt the company, your career is over.
And if you play your cards right, even if he doesn't tap you for the number two slot, there will most likely be other benefits you can expect. You can still be a key player on the new team, and, who knows, you might still get that shot at the big chair.
That's the way the game is played.
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