What To Do When You Outgrow Your Manager

If you’re at one company long enough, it’s possible that you have the opportunity to work with a manager for several years. In some cases, that length of time leads to you outgrowing your manager. It’s no ones fault, but it can be disheartening when you realize it.

Disclaimer: For me, I’ve changed managers pretty much every year of my career so far, sometimes multiple times in one year. Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of working with the same boss for a little over a year and a half. I’ve learned a lot from him and our relationship is still healthy. Andy if you’re reading this, thank you for your guidance and the growth opportunities so far!

In those years when I was on the management carousel, I did feel like I was running into a wall. Navigating this feeling can be tough, but there are some steps you can take to improve your situation.

First, you’ll need to express that you feel underserved when it comes to mentorship. You’ll also need to be prepared to discuss why you feel you aren’t getting appropriate mentorship that way you can solve the problem with your manager.

That in mind, let’s dive a bit deeper. For each of these sections, consider the question and whether or not you are able to answer quickly. If not, it’s good to reflect on each piece to pick apart where you’ll want to focus on…