Welcome to the Senior Management Team: The Day You Got “Made”
Welcome to the Senior Management Team — where you’ve just been “made.” Bigger paycheck, bigger power, and maybe a target on your back. Here’s the funny truth about joining the corporate inner circle.
So, You’ve Finally Made It…
Congratulations — you’re in. After years of grinding away, nodding through meetings, and perfecting your “I totally understand this strategy” face, you’ve finally crossed over.
No, not to the other side (although that might come later when the boardroom votes you out). You’ve crossed into The Inner Circle — the Senior Management Team.
Think of it less like a promotion and more like being “made” in the mafia. The rules have changed. You’re not just playing the game anymore — you are the game.
The Office Mafia vs. Senior Management: A Comparison
| Mafia Life | Senior Management Life |
|---|---|
| Sworn in during a secret ceremony | Inducted during a very serious (but painfully long) leadership off-site |
| Must follow the code of silence (Omertà) | Must follow the code of corporate jargon (Synergy, Low-Hanging Fruit, Bandwidth) |
| Betrayal could cost you your life | Betrayal could cost you your bonus (and potentially your job) |
| You might have to “whack” someone | You might have to “cut” someone… from the team |
| Everyone fears you | Everyone resents you but still laughs at your bad jokes |
| The Don expects loyalty | The CEO expects results, PowerPoints, and KPIs |
| Blood in, blood out | Budget in, budget out |
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Being “One of Them”
✅ The Good:
- Bigger Paycheck – Congratulations, your payslip might finally outpace your caffeine budget.
- Decision-Making Power – You’re not just attending meetings, you’re running them (and probably adding more to everyone else’s calendars).
- Respect (Sort Of) – People stop interrupting you. Not because they respect you, but because they don’t want to get on your bad side.
James Mason
❌ The Bad:
- Accountability Overload – Every problem becomes your problem.
- Scapegoat Status – Bad quarter? Guess who’s taking the heat.
- The Human Cost – Sometimes you’re the one who has to deliver the bad news — redundancies, budget cuts, or the dreaded new policy rollout.
😬 The Ugly:
- The “Sell-Out” Factor – Your old teammates might now see you as The Enemy.
- Backstabbing Olympics – The higher you go, the sharper the knives.
- Job Security Is a Myth – Make too many unpopular decisions and you might get “sleeping with the fishes” (HR version: “pursuing other opportunities”).
Your Senior Management Survival Checklist
✅ Master the Serious Nod – perfect for looking like you understand the latest financial forecast.
✅ Learn the Strategic Pause – say less, make people wait, then deliver your “insight.”
✅ Memorise 10 pieces of Corporate Jargon – rotate them until the next strategy refresh.
✅ Keep a Scapegoat Ready – someone’s got to take the fall.
✅ Maintain Plausible Deniability – “That wasn’t my decision” is your new catchphrase.
✅ Invest in A Good Poker Face – because sometimes you’re nodding while secretly panicking.
James Mason
Can You Stay the Same Person?
Here’s the real question: can you still be you? Or will the weight of targets, budgets, and shareholders turn you into the very villain you used to complain about at the watercooler?
Being in senior management is a balancing act — do you stand up for your people, or do you protect the bottom line? Can you be the hero and the hatchet man?
The Final Word: Where Do You Draw The Line?
Many successful leaders have had to be ruthless to get where they are. But being “number one” doesn’t mean leaving everyone else behind — or throwing them under the bus.
At the end of the day, the best leaders are the ones who can work the politics, keep their integrity intact, and still look their team in the eye.
