Firstly, an update on yesterdays blog:
Whatever I needed became irrelevant shortly after I wrote that blog.
Secondly, why it became irrelevant:
I am really stressed.
I manage a team of 7 people. 5 of those are employees of an Indian based company who are out here 'temporarily' to work on my team. Some have been here 3+ years, others 12 months.
I love my team, they are a fabulous group. Hard working and fun. I think the 'love' is returned as my DH and my boss tell me that getting gifts from your team on your wedding anniversary is not common.
(FYI: Of the other 2 in my team, 1 is with a different company and the other requested to return to India late last year. He is still part of my team, just working 'off-shore'.)
It is cheaper for the company I work for to have the resources located in India.
So yesterday I was told that to save money I had to send 2 more of my team back to India. I negotiated that down to 1 person, but today I had to decide who it was to be.
Should it be the person whose father passed away 2 months ago who needs his Australian salary to send money home to keep his brothers in school? Should it be the person who just signed a new lease on a house and has a boyfriend over here? Or should it be the one who just moved his wife and 6 month old daughter to Melbourne? Or should the one with no ties be sent back just beacuse he has no ties?
Of course the decision had to be based on the best person work wise. Not based on personal circumstances.
This is the part of being a manager that makes me feel literally ill. I had to choose the one with the lease and the boyfriend. Her company will compensate her for the lease. And I know in the long term her parents will choose her a husband and she never planned 'forever' with her boyfriend. I feel sick, but she had the right mix of skills to be the one to go home. Agghhh!
Thirdly, what happened next:
I fought and argued. With myself. For hours. I purchased a healthy lunch. I went for a walk. I called my husband.
Then I ate chocolate, not a huge amount, but it was the mindless, trying not to feel component of the eating that bothered me.
Then I read some of your blogs. And got tears in my eyes. You are such an inspiring group!
Fourthly, what I should have done:
Read the blogs BEFORE I ate.
Lastly, what next:
Track what I ate. Learn. Hope that it is my lucky week with the lottery and as a back up plan start thinking about how I can better manage these situations... because more of my team will be sent home soon...
PS - added after the first comment was received... the team member will still be a part of my team, just located in India rather than Melbourne...
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wrong!
Firstly, an update on yesterdays blog:
Whatever I needed became irrelevant shortly after I wrote that blog.
Secondly, why it became irrelevant:
I am really stressed.
I manage a team of 7 people. 5 of those are employees of an Indian based company who are out here 'temporarily' to work on my team. Some have been here 3+ years, others 12 months.
I love my team, they are a fabulous group. Hard working and fun. I think the 'love' is returned as my DH and my boss tell me that getting gifts from your team on your wedding anniversary is not common.
(FYI: Of the other 2 in my team, 1 is with a different company and the other requested to return to India late last year. He is still part of my team, just working 'off-shore'.)
It is cheaper for the company I work for to have the resources located in India.
So yesterday I was told that to save money I had to send 2 more of my team back to India. I negotiated that down to 1 person, but today I had to decide who it was to be.
Should it be the person whose father passed away 2 months ago who needs his Australian salary to send money home to keep his brothers in school? Should it be the person who just signed a new lease on a house and has a boyfriend over here? Or should it be the one who just moved his wife and 6 month old daughter to Melbourne? Or should the one with no ties be sent back just beacuse he has no ties?
Of course the decision had to be based on the best person work wise. Not based on personal circumstances.
This is the part of being a manager that makes me feel literally ill. I had to choose the one with the lease and the boyfriend. Her company will compensate her for the lease. And I know in the long term her parents will choose her a husband and she never planned 'forever' with her boyfriend. I feel sick, but she had the right mix of skills to be the one to go home. Agghhh!
Thirdly, what happened next:
I fought and argued. With myself. For hours. I purchased a healthy lunch. I went for a walk. I called my husband.
Then I ate chocolate, not a huge amount, but it was the mindless, trying not to feel component of the eating that bothered me.
Then I read some of your blogs. And got tears in my eyes. You are such an inspiring group!
Fourthly, what I should have done:
Read the blogs BEFORE I ate.
Lastly, what next:
Track what I ate. Learn. Hope that it is my lucky week with the lottery and as a back up plan start thinking about how I can better manage these situations... because more of my team will be sent home soon...
PS - added after the first comment was received... the team member will still be a part of my team, just located in India rather than Melbourne...
Whatever I needed became irrelevant shortly after I wrote that blog.
Secondly, why it became irrelevant:
I am really stressed.
I manage a team of 7 people. 5 of those are employees of an Indian based company who are out here 'temporarily' to work on my team. Some have been here 3+ years, others 12 months.
I love my team, they are a fabulous group. Hard working and fun. I think the 'love' is returned as my DH and my boss tell me that getting gifts from your team on your wedding anniversary is not common.
(FYI: Of the other 2 in my team, 1 is with a different company and the other requested to return to India late last year. He is still part of my team, just working 'off-shore'.)
It is cheaper for the company I work for to have the resources located in India.
So yesterday I was told that to save money I had to send 2 more of my team back to India. I negotiated that down to 1 person, but today I had to decide who it was to be.
Should it be the person whose father passed away 2 months ago who needs his Australian salary to send money home to keep his brothers in school? Should it be the person who just signed a new lease on a house and has a boyfriend over here? Or should it be the one who just moved his wife and 6 month old daughter to Melbourne? Or should the one with no ties be sent back just beacuse he has no ties?
Of course the decision had to be based on the best person work wise. Not based on personal circumstances.
This is the part of being a manager that makes me feel literally ill. I had to choose the one with the lease and the boyfriend. Her company will compensate her for the lease. And I know in the long term her parents will choose her a husband and she never planned 'forever' with her boyfriend. I feel sick, but she had the right mix of skills to be the one to go home. Agghhh!
Thirdly, what happened next:
I fought and argued. With myself. For hours. I purchased a healthy lunch. I went for a walk. I called my husband.
Then I ate chocolate, not a huge amount, but it was the mindless, trying not to feel component of the eating that bothered me.
Then I read some of your blogs. And got tears in my eyes. You are such an inspiring group!
Fourthly, what I should have done:
Read the blogs BEFORE I ate.
Lastly, what next:
Track what I ate. Learn. Hope that it is my lucky week with the lottery and as a back up plan start thinking about how I can better manage these situations... because more of my team will be sent home soon...
PS - added after the first comment was received... the team member will still be a part of my team, just located in India rather than Melbourne...
4 comments:
-
well, firing someone is never fun. I have to say, it's the least of all evils you chose.
The worst one to have had to send back would be the one sending his brother to school...I sometimes relish my relative lack of impact on the lives of others.
Hope you feel better soon fiona. -
February 24, 2010 at 4:32 PM
-
Holy crap! Not a fun day at all. When all is said and done, I guess you deserved a little chocolate. And you did choose that healthy lunch. It all balances out, right?
-
February 25, 2010 at 12:55 AM
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First step to overcoming is recognition- hey you recognized what was causing the need, and you took steps to overcome! YAYYY!!! You're doing awesome girl, keep it up! You'll get there! This battle is more about little steps than big leaps- remember that. :) Good luck making those tough decisions!
-
February 25, 2010 at 10:22 AM
-
Wow -
Rough day at the office, dear?
Deep breath, and get some good sleep and good food. -
February 25, 2010 at 1:00 PM
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4 comments:
well, firing someone is never fun. I have to say, it's the least of all evils you chose.
The worst one to have had to send back would be the one sending his brother to school...I sometimes relish my relative lack of impact on the lives of others.
Hope you feel better soon fiona.
Holy crap! Not a fun day at all. When all is said and done, I guess you deserved a little chocolate. And you did choose that healthy lunch. It all balances out, right?
First step to overcoming is recognition- hey you recognized what was causing the need, and you took steps to overcome! YAYYY!!! You're doing awesome girl, keep it up! You'll get there! This battle is more about little steps than big leaps- remember that. :) Good luck making those tough decisions!
Wow -
Rough day at the office, dear?
Deep breath, and get some good sleep and good food.
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