I am considering stepping back from a managerial role to an individual contributor role. I am burned out, frankly, and about six months ago, my boss gave me responsibility for some groups that I hated dealing with — they are not my strength, and I did not want to have to take on their problems.
This took me from being content to being highly dissatisfied. Recently the boss has started complaining about me not doing enough in these areas, and it is frankly sucking the life out of me at work. The job market in my field is not doing great, so just leaving is not a real option, even though I’d like to. When I think hard, I just want to return to an individual contributor role and stop being responsible for other people. Will I destroy my career if I do this?
To read my answer, click here: How Do I Go Back to My Old Job?
Solid and helpful article.
And I think it reinforces the admonition that we need to know where we’re going, where we’re trying to get to, and why, before starting our journey.
I did this very move. Lower and middle management sucks. I feel bad for most of them. You get all the responsibility with little to no authority or reward. I sometimes think promoting someone to “manager” is a scam because you are salaried and get nothing for the added stress and hours. When I was management, most of the staff made more than I did because they were hourly. They could also pick and choose when and how often to take OT. I chose to take a 0.0001% cut in pay for 1000% reduction in stress. You have to think of management as a job or a role. It should be no better or worse of cultural status as staffing is. Your experience in management also gives you experience. Ever hear the expression to “manage up”. You will know when and how to bring issues to your next manager.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article, as it provided valuable insights on a topic that doesn’t receive enough attention. As mentioned, it’s common for individuals to progress within an organization, but sometimes stepping down can be the best decision. It’s important to recognize that if management notices poor performance at the managerial level compared to the individual contributor level, they have the authority to fire that individual and promote someone else to fill the position. Each person should reflect on their long-term career goals before entering the workforce. This would assist in determining whether they would want to be promoted until they achieve the top management level or not. Managing others isn’t the correct job for everyone, and that’s okay because there is more to life than being unsatisfied in the workplace. Everyone experiences challenges in their career paths, and not enjoying the work performed at your job can lead to a miserable life. At the end of the day, choosing a position that brings satisfaction will make it easier to perform well and find enjoyment in your work.