So, yesterday was weird.
On top of feeling like death warmed over, my boss’s boss, the VP of the program, asked to see me. Which, you know, reeks of being summoned to the principal’s office.
“Sarah”, he said. “You know I’m hiring for an assistant position.”
“Yes,” I said.
“And there’s been some talk that you’d be interested in it.”
“I’d considered it, yes,” I said.
“Sit down for a spell and talk with me,” he said. I perched on the edge of the chair closest to me and braced myself. I expected him to start listing off the criteria of the position, the expectations he’d have, and what he was looking for. I stiffened my spine and waited.
Finally, he spoke. “Frankly, I was floored that you were interested. I wasn’t sure that you even liked me,” he said, smiling a half smile. “But, in all seriousness, you are far too talented for that position.”
WHA?
“But the money is better,” I countered.
“Money isn’t everything,” he replied. “Hang in there. You’re young. Money will come.”
“And the visibility is better,” I suggested.
“You have far more influence where you are now,” he argued. “You’ve done more in your six months where you are than you would ever have an opportunity to do where you’re asking to go. Look, I know you can do that job. You’d do it well. There is no doubt in my mind that if you wanted to, you’d be the best assistant I could ask for. But I feel the need to be paternal here and warn you that this may not be the right step for you to make. I’m not your daddy and I don’t run your life, but I want you to seriously consider this: you have made an impact where you are. You are central to our team. And by taking an assistant position, you would be relegating yourself to a desk jockey position.”
I sat back. I had not anticipated this. AT ALL.
“Again, it’s your choice. Sleep on it, and if tomorrow you decide that this is really what you want, say the word. But I think you have such a future ahead of you where are you now, and I feel this need to be paternal before you make a mistake. Just sleep on it. I’m a sleep on it kinda guy.”
I bounced that around in my head all afternoon and all night, only confessing the conversation to Bryan right before we fell asleep. The more I thought about it, he gave me everything I had hoped to gain from a new position, but he had done so in the conversation warning me against it. I needed to be acknowledged, to be heard, to be appreciated. And for him to be so human, to be so paternal.. it was what I needed.
I turned down his offer today, with us both smiling as I did it. I’ve worked too hard to have my own desk, my own title, to just be someone else’s gopher. Of course, the idea of turning away more money definitely made my head hurt, but my heart was fine with it.
Today, I had my review with my manager, and surprisingly enough, she had gone to the VP for assessment of my performance. She smiled as she went over my attributes. “You’re a member of our Leadership Team,” she said. “Little ole you.”
Not only do I think I can do this, but I’m pretty sure I already have. And well.
