Manager Me

I've been a manager for over two weeks now. Not too sound arrogant or anything, but I knew this was coming. Even before our senior executive called me to his room to congratulate me, weeks before the formal announcement came out. How? I guess it's because I trust in the company process rewarding good performance. And I knew I was performing well.

Anyway, as I told a friend, I still don't feel any different, still don't feel the increase in "power". I still lead a small team because I don't have my own project yet. I still have to be assigned my own set of issues and enhancements. Some changes underscore the change in status though. I now have a digital phone with caller ID and the works. My mail now gets delivered straight to my desk (as opposed to being dumped in mailfolders). I have my own parking space, a gas card, and just in case you're wondering what I'll do with those perks in the absence of my own car, I have an option to get a lease-to-own arrangement for a low-end car model (they say it's enough for a Toyota Vios, if I don't want to shell out anything). I now attend executive meetings and have a say in the planning items.

Instead of "power", I feel the additional responsibilities and expectations. Clearly, the scope if not just about my team anymore, not even just about my project. It's the company. It's a totally different ballgame now. Technical proficiency alone would not suffice. And in a way, I prepared myself to be OK to not emerge at the top of my peers next year, as my peers are now of a different "species". I really don't know how this'll all work out in the coming months.

Anyway, here's to keeping my sanity.