Into the Breach

"Once more into the breach dear friends, once more."

Well, it's about to start. I have to bridge the gap between the time we lose our head of HR, until her replacement comes on board. Two months of vulnerability and exposure for me. Not to mention more work than I would have liked, and I'm not one to shun hard work.

My current boss is leaving and her replacement doesn't start until September. So, I'll have to sit on two chairs for the interim. As though I don't have enough to do in my own job, come Monday I'm also in charge of the entire department. There's a reason I didn't put myself forward for her job, and that's because I like having that layer between myself and those at the very top. I like having my own particular realm of responsibility without it including everything else, and especially without it being at the beck and call of the C(insert letter)Os. They don't intimidate me and perhaps that's the problem. Because of that, sometimes they don't know what to make of me, I don't fit the mold. Besides, I like my little corner cubicle vs. her office. But I'm not moving. Nope, my bum is staying firmly in my standard-back chair vs. her high-back chair (yes we are that anal here), though there's certainly enough of it to fit a cheek on each.

It gives me a headache just thinking about it. About being the one to attend all the meetings, handle all the unexpected questions, go head-to-head with those that can make or break you in a moment, and figuring out how to play their little games. July and August should have been quiet months where I found time to finally get those niggling little outstanding projects finished. Now it seems it's not to be. I was juggling along nicely but now more balls have been added to my balancing act. And I want need to visit with my man before too long, which will prove interesting to accomplish given I'm not supposed to 'leave the helm' during this time. But damnit if he finds a little window of opportunity, I'm there!

Truth be told, I'm feeling a little stressed, sometimes more than a little. Things have been filtering out over the past week or so with an 'over to you' label attached, adding to my already busy day. There will be issues I haven't had to handle before, tasks I was only the support for but now must double-up, and interactions at a whole different level. I have a sense of being overwhelmed just at the thought of it all! And without being able to delegate to myself. I need a 'me' to help out.

My ex-boss (the one before the current one, yep I've been through a few in my day) asked me if I'll be getting some extra monetary recognition for the additional responsibility. That made me laugh, in fact I'll be lucky if I get a 'thank you' at the end of my assignment. I'll be content to survive the two months without dropping any balls and without losing my foothold on this shaky ground. And then in September, that will be a whole different situation altogether, with the new head of function arriving. No doubt with her very own agenda.

Wish me luck, please.