Jilly over at jillysheep is having a little local difficulty with management. Her manager keeps changing: “Who’s our manager this week?”. I’ve had some fun of my own this week …

Anyone who works in a large organisation will likely understand the following (paraphrased) conversation with a senior manager:

“We’ve got an interesting challenge with project X and I need someone strong to sort it out. Would you like to do it?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“No, not really.”

So you end up clearing your desk, handing off everything you’re currently doing — in mid-project; very unsatisfying! — to people who already have too much to do, ready to start on the new project “tomorrow”.

“What’s in it for me?”
“You get to do what you’re good at: be a PITA to Z!”

Oh gee thanks. The words “frying pan”, “fire” and “jump” come to mind.

What has been really touching tho’ is that a number of my colleagues — including several I would never have expected — have not just wished me well but said how sorry they are to see me move on and how much I’ll be missed. It’s almost enough to make me feel quite emotional.