Grains of wisdom on how to turn ideas into actions

Q: I joined a manufacturer two years ago as a VP to create a new business unit. I signed a noncompete agreement and have been extremely forthcoming with strategies, ideas and contacts. Recently, due to the slowing economy, I was informed that there would be no business unit, and that I would assume a front-line sales role without the direct resources I'd been promised. How do I handle being "baited-and-switched?"

Bonnie: First and foremost, realize that you have options and that you haven't necessarily been conned, which is how I think of a bait-and-switch. If you haven't already called your attorney about the noncompete, I'd start there. It is hard for companies to hold a professional to these agreements legally, especially when the job has changed, but you will need your lawyer's counsel on this.

If the noncompete is not holding you back from looking for something better, I wonder what is keeping you there. Is it the amount of intelligence and energy you've invested in this opportunity? Are you still hoping to get a return on that investment? In that case, you might look at the situation like a stock that is down, and decide whether to cut your losses and move on, or ride it out.

Nancy: Here are some questions to consider. Aside from this situation, how much do you like this company and the people who hired you? If they've been fair and straightforward with you, it might be a place worth investing more time. Provided, of course, that you think the future prospects look reasonably good.

Then I'd look at the other side of the question: How much does this company like you? If other people were laid off, maybe the owners or managers are doing their best to keep you on in a tough market. Maybe offering you this sales position was the only way to keep your intelligence on board for the better times to come. On the other hand, if you were singled out for a "demotion," that is a different story.

If your lawyer can successfully make the case that you are not bound by the noncompete, you can use all of your connections to find another position with more opportunity. It is certainly not uncommon for people to look for new opportunities while continuing to work in their existing positions.

If you like the company and think it has potential, you can try to renegotiate your position based on the company's performance so that when it achieves certain financial results, for instance, you'd be made a manager with a certain level of responsibility. The business unit you signed on for may no longer make sense for the company -- strategic plans do change -- but with good sales and a less skittish economy, you may still have a good career there.

Bonnie: There is also the personal and emotional side of the discussion. If the disappointment is recent, you may still be too angry to make a sound life-altering decision. We infer from your "bait-and-switch" remark that you feel you've been taken advantage of beyond what was fair and reasonable. So I'd advise you to hold your decision until some of the sting is gone.

You also face hard questions about your tolerance for risk and the size of your ego. Are you willing to take a risk, to invest more of your time and knowledge in this company? Or are you willing to take the risk of cutting loose and finding the next opportunity? And is it too much of a blow not to be a manager? Only you can make these judgements.

I've been reading a lot of Murray Bowen's work on the balance between emotional and intellectual systems. The more you can find that balance, not letting yourself react when emotionally triggered and making decisions from a calm place, the more options you have. It isn't what you hoped for, but we think you have options. If you take back control and make a conscious choice, we think you will be less frustrated wherever you land.

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