Anxious in Birmingham

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My question is about the balance between realizing an opportunity and sitting tight with anxiety.

I work for a software company that has clients in the energy sector. We are a "clicks and mortar" set up. Over the year and a half that I have been here, we were pursuing initial an IPO but for several reasons did not do that.

My boss (the CTO) is a crisis-driven individual w/ his own agenda who stopped communicating with the COO. Our CEO has been in the middle as has our mid-level marketing person.

A really excellent manager has gotten a sweet offer and is leaving. His decision set off the following events: My boss (the CTO) had all but a nervous break down and took a leave of absence (he is now trying to manage from home). Our CEO told us to direct all of the CTO's his correspondence to him (I think in an effort to get the CTO to power down.) We have stopped all new development. The news came out that we are being shopped around, but it's unclear where that stands. After I wrap up this project (I'm a technical writer) I will essentially not have any NEW work, though there are things that I am going to do.

My dilemma is that I want to stay and realize some profits out of my points if we get sold, yet it feels uncomfortable to be in a situation where many of us do not have new work. Plus, we are dreading the return of our boss who could be stewing in a sea of anxiety and suspicion right now. To you outsiders what does this look like and what should I do?

-- Jeannine Pope (popessa@yahoo.com), January 29, 2001

Answers

Assess the sitution not from the point of view of what you would stand to losebyt leaving - but rather from what you stand to gain by staying. 18 months is long time ot wait on the spec of IPO profits. With the changing market - unless the business plan is sound - you may never realize any benefit from the fiancial situation of the company. If you can tolerate a rocky road - a boss who has crashed - or a new boss - who has a different modis operandi - then by all means stay. But is you are not happy now - and are not in a position to ensure your own happiness - go.

Most importantly though you need to realize that you may not have to answer these questions just this one time in your career - you will have to constantly assess your relationship to your work. It is difficult - but it will lead you to places where you know you are committed and when the reward for the work is the intrinsic value of the work done. I am an IT manager with ten years of experience.

-- Kristina Ickes (ickeskd@mediaone.net), March 25, 2001.


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