Page 269 - Just Promoted A 12 Month Road Map for Success in Your New Leadership Role

254 Just Promoted!

teachers. Linda had learned to juggle the difficult task of being a
mother, wife, and teacher, and she received great family and profes-
sional satisfaction. Religious worship, involvement in their children’s
activities, and physical activities were strongly shared family values.
The family was comfortable with their upper-middle-class lifestyle.
Their five-year-old suburban tract home had a manageable monthly
mortgage payment, and Linda’s late model car was paid for. Finances
were managed carefully, but there was enough money to allow for vaca-
tions, a tennis club membership, and a growing trust fund to cover the
children’s college education. Overall, Bob and Linda’s marriage was
going well. They lived in a comfortable house, were raising two well-
adjusted children, they had enough money and job security, and both
found their jobs satisfying. They shared many common activities, had
time for each other, and had time for the things they valued and
enjoyed. Theirs was a loving, happy marriage.
The promotion to vice president was Bob’s big career opportunity.
He had prepared himself, interviewed well, and was ultimately selected
from four finalists. He was offered the job on a Friday, and he all but
accepted the position on the spot. The company wanted Bob to start
within a month. He said that he would like the weekend to discuss it
with his family and he would give a final decision on Monday.
Bob and Linda had discussed the possibility of a job change and
promotion on two occasions. Bob didn’t think that he would get the
position (“I don’t have all the management tickets”), but, ever support-
ive, Linda encouraged him to interview. “If you get the position, we will
worry about the details then.” As so often happens with an unexpected
opportunity, events occurred more quickly.
Professionally and personally, Bob, Linda, and their children were
unprepared for the consequences of their decision. What was seemingly
an excellent career opportunity turned into a family nightmare. Bob and
Linda did not appreciate the negative effects the change would have on
their family system.
A critical family decision was the one to relocate. The new job was
100 miles away, and neither Bob nor Linda liked the idea of Bob’s