Manager perspective needed: How would you react if an employee asked about moving to a lower level role?
Hello all, sorry this is gonna be long.
I’ve been in my current role for about 2.5 years. Simply put, I am unhappy. I’m looking for the perspective of managers ahead of a conversation that I am considering having with my boss.
I had an opportunity 2.5 years ago to move from Management in the food service industry to insurance. It was quite the shift. It’s the only role I’ve had in insurance. Each year, I have met all of my professional expectations at my year-end review and been eligible bonus. I would describe myself as a middle of the road performer.
I say all of that to say, I can do the job. Am I outstanding? No. Am I okay? Sure.
The parts of my job that I truly enjoy most are liability investigations, coverage analysis, fact finding, and working with my customers. The parts I really struggle with are negotiation/presentation aspects that are a major part of my current role. I’ve thought for a long time, that it was because this was new to me. That eventually, my anxiety would dissolve with more experience. But it hasn’t. I simply don’t find this sustainable for me long term, and as a mid performer, I don’t see myself exceeding and getting promotions in my current role.
I recently applied for another role internally (also BI, different department). I applied because the scheduling would have been a good fit for me. I went through the interview process and was ultimately not given the job opportunity. That is okay. But it got me really thinking about where I see myself with this company long-term and it’s just not this role. But, I love the company I work for.
I’m considering talking to my boss about an internal transfer to a lower level role simply doing non-injury auto claims. It’s exactly what I’m doing now without the injury portion. I am aware this will be a pay cut.
I guess I would like a manager’s perspective. I think that I’m nervous because I would hate to come across as noncommittal or lacking ambition. I promise you neither of those things are true. I take my work very seriously and do my best every day. How would you guys want an employee to approach this discussion? Would it raise any red flags for you? if an employee told you that their current role doesn’t align with their long-term goals, but still wants to apply themselves and their skill set to benefit the company in a different way, how would you react? I don’t want a target on my back.
TLDR: considering asking or even floating the idea of transferring to a lower level role due to ongoing anxiety and stress around demands of current role. Nervous about becoming a target or coming across as noncommittal.