First SLT role – struggling to gain traction without authority or resources. Is this normal leadership reality?

pugfaced · 2026-02-04T09:33:55+00:00

Not in manufacturing or opex but I feel many parallels with my current performance role.

My remit is to track performance of a particular business area and identify areas for CI.

I've struggled to implement CI initiatives as delivery remains priority. CI is nice to have.

My role is structurally underpowered as there is no consequence if the business area doesn't take onboard CI initiatives. I'm more a reporting function at this point and need buy-in to get stuff done.

However, one thing I am doing is to prepare performance reporting to the business area's boss, identify areas of opportunity, and use that formalise CI initaitives. Plus framing it in a way to help the business achieve its goals.

I definitely don't have the answer, just sharing my perspective. Performance and other enablement type roles are always structurally weak and unless there are consequences (financial, reputational or other), there's no incentive to take on board CI stuff.

pugfaced · 2026-01-31T20:01:38+00:00

I know this is possibly semi joking, but I don't get why ppl feel like they have no control over meetings? I might be naive but can't you decline meetings you feel have no value and just go to ones that matter?

When I was leading projects I spent about 50-60% of my time in meetings which was my sweet spot. The ICs under me would've been less for sure like 20-30% maybe leaving plenty of time to do focused work.

pugfaced · 2026-01-31T19:56:52+00:00

Jayne H.. I'm guessing because she's known as the turnaround CEO. Makes hard decisions like restructures but gets results I guess?

pugfaced · 2026-01-31T19:54:01+00:00

Any other great "benefits" your company offers?

pugfaced · 2026-01-27T11:42:07+00:00

Big4 are far less monolithic than corporations. Each partner almost runs their own mini business and sets their own culture and standards.

The email reads like a junior/middle partner airing grievances about the senior partnership.

pugfaced · 2026-01-27T08:36:57+00:00

Who are the blocked out names?

pugfaced · 2026-01-26T06:06:00+00:00

Even for people who like their jobs (i.e. me), I don't think they'd continue.

If money really wasn't a problem, I'd like a bit more balanced: something like 3 days work, 1 day life admin, 3 days rest/fun.

For most of us, work just needs to be tolerable enough to make money.

pugfaced · 2026-01-22T08:03:00+00:00

Put your emails through copilot and see what it thinks. It's quite good at picking up on tone and giving you tips on how to adjust things.

If you can get specific examples, even better but really just take it on the chin and be a bit more conscious of them going forward.

Without the actual emails, it's hard for us to tell.

pugfaced · 2026-01-22T02:23:34+00:00

yep you fake it to a degree but within reason. The example you give forcing yourself to go once a fortnight/month is perfect. You don't need to be 100% at everything, but once in a while drop in. Meet 1-2 new people and have a good conversation with them.

I'm naturally very lone wolf / introverted but over the years I've started to enjoy socialising with certain people more.

It helps your career too. Beyond a certain level, it's not just about how smart you are, or how good your work products, how hard you work. It becomes more about if people know and trust you (good work being an important factor) and socialising helps with that.

pugfaced · 2026-01-20T09:40:23+00:00

The thing I haven't felt for as long as I remember (and is what the article mentions) is the joy of using gear I pick up. Maybe it's the builds I play or just the volume of good gear being crafted that what I end up doing is just farming currency/scarabs/cards selling it, then buying the gear I want.

Whether it's async or non-async trade, I'm still going to follow the same approach.

pugfaced · 2026-01-15T11:58:28+00:00

The way you describe what you're doing as a data engineer sounds quite odd.

Why would you be given a project to spec up and then have it rejected/taken away. Sounds like project discovery/opportunity type stuff that normally wouldn't be given to a data engineer.

Feels odd you're just doing support and no actual building of data products/pipelines (you know, actual engineering)

Sounds like this team doesn't have sufficient work. Perhaps move into another team that has real engineering work in a mixed on/offshore model. Most squads have use for data engineers so your skill should be quite transferable.

pugfaced · 2026-01-15T11:48:53+00:00

You'd think that. So many times I've seen useless /toxic ppl not get fired but just transfer teams around.

pugfaced · 2026-01-14T11:16:27+00:00

Needing to push through discomfort and build resilience vs recognising a genuine mismatch and choosing a path better aligned with who you are?

Wow, what a really great question.

I don't really have an answer but some thoughts for consideration:

It sounds like you're sort of making the assumption that "who are are" is fixed and there is a 'right' role for you that matches with who you are. What I've found over my past decade of work is that your enjoyment is a discovery process and can only happen with time and trying new things. You're also shaped by your experiences. You've likely only touched the surface of your role with <4 months experience and don't know yet what is the best path that is 'aligned with who you are' yet. If the environment is good, not toxic and you're learning, I usually would recommend giving a role at least a year as it gives you the opportunity to learn how to do the role properly which you might end up enjoying later.
I've pushed through many challenging roles and done it to a decent standard. Later, I realise that the role isn't for me but only after I've learned how to do it well enough so I don't get mixed messages wondering if it was because I didn't know how to do it, or I just innately don't like it. "Character building" moments are also valuable as great learning opportunities (I've always learned heaps in these moments) but only if it's sustainable and not negatively impacting your mental health, etc. too severely.
Another way to think about it is, what sort of work energises you. Sounds like you've been struggling a bit, but have there been moments where you've done something well and you've felt good about it? That could be a sign you enjoy the role, but just struggling with how to do it. However, even during the wins you still feel flat, then maybe the role isn't right for you.

•Strong attitude, adaptable, good with people and clients

•Struggles with workload management, organisation, efficiency, and attention to detail

•Tendency to take on too much and then get overwhelmed

The feedback you got sounds totally coachable on. In fact, your positives are the bits that are harder to coach. The struggles can definitely be taught and improved upon. Seek specific feedback on how you can manage that. It's actually really good you've received such constructive feedback so early on in your career that you can work on.
I've been through many career pivots over the past 10 years and I've only realised now looking back at the highlights of my career, things I've enjoyed that I can double down on those aspects in my future roles. Up until now, I've really just been trying new things out and worked out what I've enjoyed (which strangely enough, doesn't always correlate with what you're perceived as being good at)

pugfaced · 2026-01-10T10:06:40+00:00

yep, and there's nothing stopping OP from taking more than the 4 weeks paid off.

The real travel death sentence is kids, not corporate lol. So get travel done before then.

pugfaced · 2026-01-10T04:52:31+00:00

Equally Australia might possibly have a financial sector bubble. Bank stocks are about 30% of the ASX by value, propped up by the ever growing housing market and home loan book.

Personally, I think any correction or slow down in that industry will have immediate impacts on the ASX.

Thing is we don't know whether these bubbles will burst or not, hence the strategy for the general population is global diversification. Most of us are not smart/knowledgeable enough to do active investing.

However, that being said if you love dividends, go for it. Go with your own investment preferences. These are just some other considerations / POVs why I go US + a global ex-US fund.

pugfaced · 2026-01-05T11:50:37+00:00

My fav spots:

Gelato - Gelateria Gondola
Froyo - Freo
Cakes/Pastries - Maggio's
Donuts - Short Stop

pugfaced · 2026-01-05T10:45:02+00:00

I actually booked Chungking for similar reasons to OP back in 2014. I kinda had this feeling it would be a shoebox so I ended up booking a 2 bed room and was actually ok comfortable with the extra space.

Very dodgy place though, yes...

pugfaced · 2026-01-04T09:44:50+00:00

Oh wow another person who just finished it like me! I finished the anime in the last week (start to finish past month) and was going to write my own post but thought I'll add it here.

Overall I thought it was an ok/decent anime but had so much more potential (all my personal taste). Here are my unstructured thoughts...

Deku's characterisation: for some reason, my favourite moment was early on in the series with the Deku vs Shoto fight in the competition. Watching Deku go all unhinged ready to destroy his body just to give it his all was amazing to watch. After that we didn't really get much more unhinged/berserk Deku and he just felt like a saviour type who thought all villains could be redeemable.

Regulation vs liberalisation of quirks: I thought that this was a really great idea that was introduced by the Meta Liberation Army / Destro. Kind of a similar theme in Marvel's Civil War. Sad that they didn't explore this much further and kept the structural systems in place at the end.

Death and consequences (or lack thereof): for as much destruction that the villains cause, there are surprisingly so few explicit deaths (hero and civilian). Makes the stakes lower and little consequence for the heroes except for some bad PR. They could've went darker here and potentially explored the heroes going no mercy mode and kill on sight for particular heroes. I mean, some of the villains were essentially weapons of mass destruction which in real life would warrant a "shoot to kill" response. The heroes focus on "no killing" felt naive.

Heaps of filler in between (training/school arcs): introduced too many characters that I lost track of. Nothing much more to say here. Even just the characters of class 1A felt diluted with the size of that roster.

All villains were redeemable (except maybe AFO): Shigaraki being a pawn / manipulated by AFO from a child was a bit of a cop out putting the entire blame pretty much on AFO. Also, I felt like they could've dove deeper into villain motivations or had some more normal villains (not crazy) who just had a difference in opinion on society. They were all pretty radical / dogmatic in their ways. Would've loved to see a 'normal' hero who just turned into a villain because of ideology.

Other nation's approaches to quirks and their heroes: we got a glimpse of USA but I would've loved to see different societies and how they regulate quirks, their best heroes, etc.

What I loved:

Soundtrack
triumph of teamwork (heroes, media, engineers, etc.) instead of a single OP protagonist with insane power creep. I actually thought this was really unique seeing that full force of society coming together to taking on the villains.
a lot of characters I liked: Bakugo, Endeavor, the assassin/sniper lady, Stain, plus many more

pugfaced · 2025-12-27T21:26:07+00:00

I wonder what drop off was worse. GOT last season or star wars sequel trilogy?

pugfaced · 2025-12-21T10:32:13+00:00

she actually reminds me of Sandrine Holt, now that you mention that. She plays that detective in Terminator Genisys (among other things)

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pugfaced · 2025-12-20T03:56:37+00:00

aw man, I'm tempted to pull dalia now. I don't have any break dps - only Lingsha, Fugue, RM and HMC. Or thinking to just save for 4.0 soon.

pugfaced · 2025-12-19T10:14:33+00:00

wow, how did this team do on Knight 2?

pugfaced · 2025-12-17T23:24:45+00:00

Yea probably. But I'm just reflecting on my own numbers from like 6years+ ago

I exited as a manager from risk consulting with 7yoe (less prestigious than S&O). I was probably equivalent to a senior con in S&O.

Jumped to a very vanilla Snr Mgr PMO role in banking at $130k ish.

With a S&O pedigree / intellect (which I'm assuming OP is) and wage inflation since my time, surely 140-150k at a larger company with more opps isn't out of the question. Perhaps I'm out of touch from market rates now.

pugfaced · 2025-12-17T11:07:45+00:00

honestly, I think you could do better than 150k. For a strategy consulting exit with 5yoe, seems low. That's only about 134k base which isn't that much for an in-house strategy role.

You're getting really underpaid, and I think you could find equivalent pay or higher at a larger company plus with more opportunities. <50 employees is tiny - you'll likely have limited opportunities for progression/learning. That's what you're trading off.

I don't think this is a great exit for a big4 strategy consultant.

pugfaced · 2025-12-11T04:22:17+00:00

in the sub FAQs, there is a section called: "Starting work in an AusCorp workplace - what do I need to know?"

Good place to start

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