Once In A Lifetime Opportunity If Played Correctly, what to do?

[RickM]

Do these managers know you well? Do they respect you?

I think the question on why you're the best fit is a good one. Who came to this conclusion and why?

A good leader surrounds himself with the best people available. This leader need not be an expert in each of his managers fields....a common misconception. In fact if the candidate is he/she would likely not make a good leader.

These managers need to be both leaders AND team players. Not all are capable of the mix. From the little you write it sounds as if these managers need more distinct areas to manage. Is overlap creating an environment of distrust?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Mike, how many people have you managed over how long?

What's the org chart look like with these 8/15?

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by jyl
If the nut gets cleaved and sold, does that sink you regardless of whether you stay in your current position or not?

Will you be willing and able to fire and replace people? Creative, educated, talented is all fine, but more than offset by destructive and back-stabbing.

Do you want to do it? Or will you be happier doing something else?

What's the upside and downside, financially?

Some things I'd think about.

Ya, I cn bring in my people if I choose but the experience set and expertise would be tough to replace at first.

The upside- no travel and a bump in salery by $300,000!

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by Jim727
Lube...

Seems to me the question you are really asking is: How do you, as a leader, give each of these guys a stake in the success of the others? If torpedoing is a way of life, it seems logical that they need to be in a structure where the torpedoes are perceived as self-destructive.

Redefine the "turf".

Jim

The turf has to do with departments - R&D, Process dev, Mfg, Sales, Mkting, QC, Tech Serv...

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by Dueller
What kind of 15 man organization have 8 managers? What specifically makes you the natural leader of this pack?

I have experience in managing engineers, sales people and marketing people not to mention that fact that I have experience in all the areas that these managers have groups (R&D, Process dev, Mfg, QC, Sales, Mkting, Tech Serv, App Eng) and I know the technology and the business.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by widgeon13
Fire a couple of the weaker managers and reorganize, that will get the message across, otherwise they will just continue to screw over each others outside of meetings, either that or implement an incentive compensation system that gives them all a chance to make the big bucks but only if they can work together.

He who controls the purse strings... controls. Hacking up might send the wrong message at first. A slow, methodical pace may prove more effective but then again 'shock-n-awe' could get some attention.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by tabs
Jimmy Baby hit on it...Tell them that if they fail, all their heads are gona be gone, and they are gona be unemployed. That working together is the only way for sucess.

If they are unwilling to change their ways U got no chance of success.

The business is rather complicated and they are all very good at what they do - their ability, if focused could bring about some great stuff.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
Are you one of the current Managers?

Personally I'd rather fail for trying any day then doing nothing. I suspect you are much the same.

Even in failure there are valuable lessons to learn that can be applied to the next success.

Go do it, you know you can and those of us here know you can.

Scott

It is not even the company I am working for. I know the company well because we have done good things for them.

[red-beard]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77
He who controls the purse strings... controls. Hacking up might send the wrong message at first. A slow, methodical pace may prove more effective but then again 'shock-n-awe' could get some attention.

Shock and awe never has the effect you want it to have. These are not passive sheep. You do not want them to be passive sheep. You want a pack of wolves and you need to be leader of the pack.

Do you understand dog psychology? Figure out the most senior one. Work out a way to show you are superior to him, but at the same time, leave a way for him to save face. Make this guy your 2nd in command and you will do well.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by RickM
Do these managers know you well? Do they respect you?

I think the question on why you're the best fit is a good one. Who came to this conclusion and why?

A good leader surrounds himself with the best people available. This leader need not be an expert in each of his managers fields....a common misconception. In fact if the candidate is he/she would likely not make a good leader.

These managers need to be both leaders AND team players. Not all are capable of the mix. From the little you write it sounds as if these managers need more distinct areas to manage. Is overlap creating an environment of distrust?

Tough to say if they all respect me or not - I am an outsider and the times I have spent with them, the upper management treats me like a rockstar. I have the hype coming in if I acept the post. That is not to say that some will look at me as a threat while others as a savour. The difficulty is to know who is who.

The job is a VP/GM slot and it could easily be a spring board for a CEO spot in 10 (or less) years (somplace else) if the profitabily is made. Then we are talking large cash.

[sammyg2]

On your deathbed, you will not look back at your life and say "I'm glad I didn't try".
Grow some nads and go for it. Be a hardass, be tough and don't take any crap from them. If they don't want to play nice, rerplace them. If they do play nice, reward them. Do that and they will make you look like a genious.

[M.D. Holloway]

True dat Wayno - I looked into the incentives for each group. The thing is a mess. Placed a call to the Board Director of over the weekend. The Board isn't going to be very flexible with changing it. If I could get everyone on the same page with the $$$ then I could begin the slow road to transforming them into a world class gig. Problem is, that won't happen.

The last thing I told the guy was "Looks like you have some smoldering fires burning deep and I don't have any means of putting them out and I can't harvest the energy effectivily."

His reply "Thats why you'd get paid the big bucks."

Sorry fella, more land means more grass to cut and your given me a heard of goats with bad bowels when what I need to get the job done is a reel mower and a 50hp tractor.

[M.D. Holloway]

passed on the offer - the money is stupid good but at the end of the day, I have a Wife and Kids to come home to and the landscape of that company would / could turn me into an 18hour a day knucklehead.

Opportunities (like cars) are always presenting themselves. Using sound judgement is important in these times.

Thanks for your insights guys!

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77 ]

IMHO this:


- The division leader prior managed by coercion and fear and it worked with this crowd


Is what leads to this:


- There are turf wars going on all the time, finger pointing and blame and no accountability
-- They all play nice nice during meetings and so forth but afterwards they throw each other under the bus in very creative ways


BTDT...

[JMPRO]

Sounds like you escaped the grasp of "The Peter Principle"
JMPRO

[JeremyD]

In my opinion - and only my opinion - the real management challenge is succeeding in an environment like this. I've had a few of these types of challenges in my career. If you have a proven track record of turning around difficult situations your stock will rise. If you are really good you will make them believe that they are changing and succeeding to benefit themselves. That's where the art of management comes in.

[ronin]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77
but then again 'shock-n-awe' could get some attention.

if delivered in a professional and respectful manner, it is usually the best method of dealing with a group of individuals who are under borderline control

[M.D. Holloway]

These things are like cars - there is always one out there that would be real interesting until you get under the hood and find out there is all sorts of work to be done beyond what you thought it needed.

I have been approuched before several times from other companies and declined the offers on the spot. This one made me think twice cuz of the cash but at the end of the day if they are gonna pay big then they are gonna want big.

If they would go for a 3 year contract then...

[ronin]

s'alright. send me in there. I'll straighten 'em out!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77

If they would go for a 3 year contract then...

3 year contract? who wants that?

2 scenarios if you had played this correctly:
1. go in, do well, make money, rise in power

2. go in, fail, 6 month term, golden parachute, move on