My new boss told me they have no idea what I was doing?
I’m a senior associate at a BB on a new team in a front office portfolio management role. Once the deal closes we handle any transaction the client wants to do. Increasing the revolver, acquisitions, syndicating to other banks, credit agreement amendments, etc.
In my first 90 days I took lead and completed two client transactions. Worked with the VPs, did all of the analysis in the memo and sent it off for approvals with risk. My boss is very senior, typically hands off and lets the VPs handle everything. I scheduled a 90 day check in with the boss and left a bit shocked.
The boss told me that they like me and I have a lot of VP potential but they have no idea what I’ve been doing the last three months and they haven’t seen too much initiative. I had to explain to them that I did these two transactions and they were surprised. Because they weren’t copied on the sausage making process and the VPs were sending the final product, I guess they didn’t really know I was doing all of the work. It’s also been a bit tricky because I’m experienced don’t need handholding. I can just take the client materials, connect with the VPs on the timeline, write the memo and execute. I’m not as “visible” as the analysts because I’m not in the VPs offices asking a bunch of questions and this is mistaken for a lack of initiative.
I guess I haven’t been doing a good job of being visible and managing up. Bit of a culture shock. In all my previous roles the cultures were typically heads down, do the work, don’t ask stupid questions and it gets noticed because the work gets done.
I think the quiet expectation is to start acting like a VP and owning the entire process, but it’s a bit tricky because the VPs are the ones leading the client communication and negotiating with risk committee. Does anyone have any advice on how to navigate these cultures, or just bridging the gap between senior associate and VP? Current plan is to start sending weekly deal updates to the boss and smoothly inserting myself more into the deal process.
I think your assessment is right. This sounds less like a performance issue and more like a disconnect between execution and visibility. There’s a Seinfeld episode where George Costanza makes a point of looking busy at his desk and staying late despite nobody really knowing what he does. It’s an exaggerated example but there’s a lesson there: doing the work and making sure the right people know you’re doing the work are two different things.
Your idea of sending weekly deal updates is a good start. I would also communicate your contributions throughout the transaction process rather than allowing the VPs to be the only ones visible to senior management.
The bigger transition from senior associate to VP is learning to own the entire process rather than simply execute your piece of it. Even if the VPs retain primary responsibility for client communication and risk negotiations you can take greater ownership of timelines, anticipate roadblocks, coordinate stakeholders and drive next steps.
I would also ask your boss directly what VP-level performance looks like on this particular team. Ultimately you shouldn't have to manufacture activity or constantly sit in someone's office to demonstrate value. You just need to become more intentional about managing up and making your contributions visible to the people responsible for evaluating your performance. It's a good reminder so we don't look disposable to A.I. efficiencies.
Yeah I agree. It's a very lean team so I don't want to step on any toes. Will just start taking more ownership from the beginning and convince them to let me send the final product. Nothing really changes, just some easy patches.
Distinctio omnis quam dolor quo deleniti. Aut consequatur cumque possimus voluptatem distinctio. Quasi soluta assumenda eaque dicta id voluptatem aut voluptas. Voluptas quas sunt autem non non possimus aspernatur nam.
Voluptas impedit qui officiis commodi temporibus amet dolorem corporis. Earum voluptates itaque quo et et. Illum expedita vitae quidem recusandae aliquid reiciendis. Quos est molestiae corporis incidunt culpa voluptas et. Blanditiis id earum quos quis.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...