Hey folks, I'm about 30 days into my new gig as a Network Operations Manager at a Managed Service Provider (MSP), and I'm starting to feel like I might have stepped into some serious chaos. When I took the job, I thought I'd be leading infrastructure migration projects in a structured way where I could really take charge and enforce operational discipline. I knew the place might be a bit messy, but I was ready to bring some order.
However, right off the bat, there's a senior team member, let's call him Mark, who's thrown everything into turmoil. Every day is filled with back-to-back meetings, and I barely have any time to think or organize my tasks. I'm constantly bombarded with interruptions and urgent requests. Mark has also imposed a fast-track timeline that wasn't established by our leadership, and to make things worse, my CTO seems largely absent, which means I'm not getting any guidance.
I also hired two new team members, thinking they would focus on specific projects, but now they're expected to tackle a whole range of topics in a disorganized environment.
What's really confusing is that I was under the impression that this MSP was heavily cloud-oriented, but it turns out only about 20% of our infrastructure is cloud-based; the rest is a jumble of undocumented legacy systems.
In a nutshell, I feel like I've lost the leadership role I was promised, and I'm struggling to impose my structured approach amidst this chaos. Is this typical for IT leadership roles nowadays, or are there still companies that value thoughtful execution? I'm curious if I should stick it out a bit longer or if this is a sign to move on. What do you all think?
5 Answers
Honestly, working at an MSP is often a grind. They tend to pile on clients without proper management, and chaos is the norm. If you're not in it for the long haul with stock options, it might be time to reconsider. Your health and sanity are worth more than any paycheck.
MSPs can definitely feel like sweatshops. It's all about quantity over quality. I wish you luck, but don't be afraid to learn from this experience. At the very least, you’ll know what to avoid next time.
It sounds like Mark might be doing more harm than good. Juggling certifications while pushing you hard seems off. You might want to set some boundaries and clarify the goals with leadership. If they don’t support you, it’s likely you’re inheriting a mess that nobody wants to deal with. Remember, it’s OK to let some processes break — not everything needs to be perfect right away.
Mark seems like a whirlwind. If you can’t rein him in, consider aligning yourself with his pace or push back to introduce some structure. If neither works, you might just want to move on.
Mark really isn’t leading; you are. You should outline a process and hold him to it. If you can’t get support from your CTO, documenting everything might help you escalate the issues.
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