Dilemma of the Month: Saying ‘No’ to New Titles

We are a mid-sized nonprofit with a three-tiered structure. We are hiring for a new senior marketing position, and I decided to go with CMO for the title to help recruit a rock star from within our industry to potentially serve as my No 2. My director of fundraising, who I personally recruited four years ago, wants her title changed to Chief Advancement Officer for parity. She does good work but in my mind is not C-level material. I don’t want to demotivate or lose her, but I do want to be honest. I also don’t want to connect the two issues – hiring a new lead marketing director with a job title change for the development director.

To read the answer, click here: Dilemma of the Month: Saying ‘No’ to New Titles

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4 thoughts on “Dilemma of the Month: Saying ‘No’ to New Titles

  1. We had a rash of unwarranted title bumps a few years ago. A handful of managers were bumped to Director level because they whined about wanting a new title. They have all been asked to leave.
    They thought that being a director was the same as being a manager and they refused to take responsibility for their department’s outcomes. They wouldn’t follow through with projects. They just wanted a new fancy title, but the company expected them to fill the role that came with the title.
    Be careful what you wish for.

    1. I work with someone who is a director and I am at the Analyst level, and most of the stuff I do is at the same level or higher than their work. VERY demotivating to say the least.

  2. Non-profit organizations have fewer options than for-profit organizations to monetarily incentivize or reward employees. Granting lofty job titles to accompany marginal salaries is one way to do this. What harm if the driver becomes the Chief Transportation Officer?

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