Crowdsource your career crisis: The trouble with titles

Dear Firstline,

I started with my current veterinary clinic two and a half years ago before we first opened. I was hired on as office manager, and an email was even sent to all staff of associated clinics naming me as manager. I had previous management and lots of administrative experience as well as having worked at one of the owners other clinics for two years before this. I took care of many of the aspects of opening the new clinic to make sure everything was in line when we opened. I even enrolled in a two-year veterinary practice manager certification course, and the practice agreed to help contribute to the tuition.

A few months later, just before we opened the practice, I was informed that I was not in fact the manager and that I had “given the title to myself,” even though the announcement email was sent out when I was hired. The position was given to someone who has no management or administrative experience or skills but had worked for the owner previously as a technician. As a result, the practice said they would no longer assist with covering my tuition because it was not relevant to my position as the sole customer care representative.

I decided to continue getting my certification anyway, as I had already paid the nonrefundable deposit. I worked very hard at this course over the last two years and received honors.

Now that I am finished my certification, I approached the practice owner about the concerns I have had with the current manager and re-presented the things I learned in my course and how I can help cut costs and increase profits by what I learned. He is basically refusing to give any credibility to the course I took, even though it is recommended by many veterinary associated bodies and put on by a very reputable school. He is oblivious to-or chooses to ignore-the amount of mistakes that the current manager makes and the amount of money her inexperience and lack of knowledge has been costing the clinic. I'm constantly having to fix mistakes the manager makes so that things can run smoothly here. (It makes my life easier in the long run, although it makes her look good to the owner.) They have even started to send her to expensive little two-day courses in small areas of management that cost more than a four-month term of my certification course.

Why would they choose to put money into training for someone when there is already a team member here who has exceptional specific education and certification for the position-and paid for it out of pocket so doesn't cost the clinic anything?

I love the place where I work and the clients and patients, but I feel constant resentment and bitterness toward the manager and owner because of this whole situation. I know it really isn't the manager's fault that she was given my position, but she really isn't at all a good fit for a management position. We all have to work closely with each other, since it's a small practice.

I hate that I have all the knowledge and skills for the position that I was originally hired on for but the owner refuses to acknowledge this. I have worked hard for my certification and want to be able to use my education in a managerial capacity. I hate that the owner is so oblivious to the problems here and that I have the proper education to fix many of our issues. Everyone else I work with agrees that the current manager isn't a good fit for the position and I would be the perfect person for it. They also agree that what was done to me- being hired as manager and then having that ripped from me-was wrong. 

Every day I go to work torn between loving aspects of my job and the anxiety that comes with the resentment and bitterness from this situation. Am I wrong in the feelings that I have? I have so much to offer and yet I'm not being appreciated for all I'm worth. I have even considered taking an extended vacation so everything falls apart here without me and they can see how much I really do to keep this place running.

-Manager without the title

An expert's answer:

Sheila Grosdidier, BS, RVT, MCP, PHR, Partner, Consultant with VMC Inc.

Wow. First I have to say your commitment to the practice after experiencing this situation is a positive reflection on you. 

If you can't change the situation, it's time to change the way you think about it. For whatever reason, a decision has been made to engage the services of someone else to serve as practice manager. With that decision made, if you are to utilize your new certification and realize your full potential as a practice manager, it will be at another practice. If all of the qualities of this practice that you love-clients, patients-don't outweigh your career desire to be a practice manager, then it's time to look for a new position where your skills can be well utilized and you can find a clinic owner who appreciates your ability that also has patients and clients who can benefit from your expertise. 

This is a very difficult and complex decision. But from your description, I think you know that your future lies in another direction. Embrace that you have the ability to make the journey to your new career. You won't lose what you have gained from this practice. You will build on it at the next practice. That small change in your thinking can open a new path toward success, achievement and the job of your dreams. 

-Sheila

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