Not utilizing my skills

[SandiG]

I have a semi new position that I thought would be more than it is.  I have years of experience that my new boss wont recognize.  I want to grow and advance... do new projects.  This new boss wont listen to my ideas, it is like I turned back the time 10 years!  How can I get my new boss to utilize my knowledge and skills.  I don't mean to be "I'm all that" but they demean my skills.  I try to just not let it bother me, a new manager came in, proposed an idea I have been talking to my boss (exactly as I proposed it... a social media plan) and because he is a "manager" they think his .. or MY idea is great.  I told my boss,  I have been telling you that for weeks now!  He just shrugged it off.  I am just soooooooo irritated at this job.  I guess you can say there is a breaking point and I am near it.  ARG!

[JessW]

Sandi

Don't stress it - it is obvious your boss has other things on his mind and that is his problem.  You could always make use of the management structure to impliment your ideas (via the back door, so to speak) with them suggesting you take an active role in each idea.  It makes them look good, it makes use of your talents and it will probably make you noticed to the real powers (whoever/wherever they may be.  Your boss may even wake up and 'smell the coffee' too!

Either way, you know what to do ... just have the courage of your convictions.

Mind you, that is just what I think - you may think/know more of the practicalities/details!

Jess 

[gee4]

How can I get my new boss to utilize my knowledge and skills.

Quick answer, you can't, unless he wants/decides to.

Read any of my postings and you will see I have been in the same situation.  It's not only frustrating, but mind-numbing.

Firstly let me remind you something that most females forget - men feel intimidated by women, especially women who have better IT and organisational skills.  I bet you any money your boss would rather flaff around his pc than ask you how to do something.  I've seen it before.  Knowledge is power.

Secondly, they don't want you to progress and develop, they want you to remain in the position they hired you for.  Your job (to them) is not to come up with ideas or solutions but to be the PA who sits at her desk and does her job - don't interfere, don't get involved.

I am not belittling you in any way because I've experienced the same, but it happens in the workplace regularly.  The bottom line is men feel insecure when they think that women might have a brain!

[Atlanta Z3]

You "thought" the job would be more than it is.  Was there a job description, were duties outlined?  I think your take away would be you are wiser now.  When looking down the road at the next great job, get specific details about the position, are they willing to hear improvement ideas from the admins, and how receiptive would your new boss be to your suggestions.

I think the other poster jumped to conclusions I would not make the assumption that your boss wants to keep you in his limited design cubicle.  In everything is a time and a place.  At the time you suggested the item he may not have been willing to move forward.  The manager clicked the right time and place for the idea and was able to get your boss to move forward.  What did the manager do different from what you did? It must have been something as he was successful - sorry that sounded very harsh.  If you want to stay in this position, I wouldn't just sit back, I would continue to promote my ideas - your boss would be less than intelligent not to take advantage of your skills.  He may just need a little adjustment time - manage the manager so to speak.  I'm confident you will find the right tack!

Side bar: In my world my bosses are very willing to come to me with their lack of IT knowledge.  I get documents all the time to fix this or that, or called in to their office to change settings.  They won't waste time floundering around.

[gee4]

It isn't so clear cut Atlanta.  In my company, as I have posted before, we work in a very fast-paced environment so everyone learns quickly - you have to.  My boss in particular is very self-sufficient so whilst he doesn't waste time flaffing around, it's because he already has the skills to get on with whatever he needs to do.

In previous jobs I have seen individuals flaff around before they would ask me or even consider asking me for help.

From experience, you can't change a person or their ways of working, unless of course they want to change.  Putting ideas forward sometimes only works when you are at a certain level.  Again my boss in particular will only listen to whoever he wants to listen to.  He very often snubs the team members he manages.

I don't believe the new manager had any better ideas than Sandi, but he was listened to because of his status within the company.

As you say, unless the job description requested it, this probably isn't a job to get your teeth into.

[countrigal]

Gee, remember that you are one person, and thus are presenting the views of a world seen by that person.  What you have seen in your views of the world are not necessarily the same views others have seen of that same world.  What we need to post in here are generalities, and ensure that we realise that we are all speaking from the view out of our own windows onto the world.  We do not have to agree, but we need to respect the fact that others may see something different out of their windows.

That being said... SandieG, look back at any job description you received, any details that would help you determine how to flesh out your position more.  Perhaps what Gee has stated is true, and this bossie will not take ideas from his PA.  Perhaps what Atlanta stated is true, and this manager hit upon the right time and place to present the idea to your boss, and that's why he bit on it now and not when you presented it.  You need to look out your window and see what the view is from there and make decisions based upon that.  If bossie seems the type who will never grow to use your skills, and you are this unhappy, brush off the CV and start looking.  Chalk this up to a learning experience and see if you can come up with questions that will help you during the interview process to keep from landing in a similiar situation.  If bossie seems like he might be able to be taught to see your usefullness, and it's a lesson you want to teach him, then stick it out and start that training.  Perhaps it is the way/time you approached him that caused the issue, if so, then teach yourself how to better choose your timing with this new boss.

Any ideas that are implemented, that you have had similiar, I would still talk to the implementors and see if your suggestions might not be able to be used to improve the plan/idea that has already been approved.  This way you are still showing your usefulness and skills, even if the core idea isn't credited to you.  Keep that up and soemone will notice and you may find your ideas no longer fall on deaf ears, even if those ears no longer belong to your current boss.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide to do.

[gee4]

I think if you read my post again I gave 2 examples not just 1 view.

You cannot generalise the world.  I speak from experience and give honest opinions so I think that counts for something.  I don't make things up and my experiences are real.