Hi I have recently joined Accenture as Management Consultant-9 with about 6+ years of experience in large organisations. I got assigned to a project which was great but somehow I don't feel comfortable with the team. there is another new joiner but who has been around slighlty longer (6 mnths) than I have . I need some advice on managing a few things from the experts on here:a) My Manager is not as glued on and barely talks about project expectations etc. and that makes it confusing from a growth perspective. Although, I am determined to put a dev plan in place and have set up some regular check ins however those were either cut short or cancelled so far. How do I build a plan around lack of manager involvement. b) I am fully aware it is extremely competitive and that the other new joiner will see me as a threat... my problem is with the "I know it all " attitude and almost like patronising me... first few weeks I thought to ignore but now it is getting on my nerves. Barely has half the experience in tiny organisations but advantage of joining early, knowing people around. What should I be doing? Currently just ignore it and let my work do the talking which it does, but clearly only that won't cut me for promotion.c) How do I connect with people/ career sponsors going fwd when I seem to be disconnected being at client sited) Also, I almost feel like a 3rd wheel in the team as the manager and colleague seem to be having private hush hush conversations and I am only involved in when there is task allocation. I struggle with it and if this doesn't change , it will be hard to survive the entire project duratione) Considering this was my first project, did not have a choice. How should I go about selecting my next project... I do feel my skills are under-utilised and I am not at the right level given the work that is delivered. Your valued advice greatly appreciated

[quote]b) I am fully aware it is extremely competitive and that the other new joiner will see me as a threat... my problem is with the "I know it all " attitude and almost like patronising me... first few weeks I thought to ignore but now it is getting on my nerves. B[b]arely has half the experience in tiny organisations but advantage of joining early, knowing people around.[/b] What should I be doing? Currently just ignore it and let my work do the talking which it does, but clearly only that won't cut me for promotion.c) How do I connect with people/ career sponsors going fwd when I seem to be disconnected being at client sited) Also, I almost feel like a 3rd wheel in the team as the manager and colleague seem to be having private hush hush conversations and I am only involved in when there is task allocation. I struggle with it and if this doesn't change , it will be hard to survive the entire project duration[/quote]You think that he might be patronising you, but your comment also seems patronising. I'm not sure which geography you've joined but in certain geographies a large amount is placed upon years of experience, in other geographies the length of experience is less important than the individuals actual skill levels and breadth of experience.This is your first project with Accenture and it won't be the one that directly gets you promoted. Deliver what you need to deliver, seek out other tasks to broaden the scope of your work, and don't get involved in any games and don't get unnecessarily paranoid. You state the your Manager isn't great about planning etc etc, this is a common issue in Accenture and consulting. What can you do? 1) Write down what you think your objectives are, send them to your manager and set-up a meeting in his/her diary to review them. Do not leave it to them to set the meeting. If they fail to attend, ask for their written feedback. If they fail to engage at this point you need to be careful as you will be relying on their written feedback at the end of your project. Ask to go for a coffee with the Manager.2) Volunteer to look after some of the project management activity for your Manager, this could be one of your objectives. 3) Get involved in one of the Accenture communities of practice to broaden your network. 4) Ask your career counsellor to help broaden your network and introduce you to people who may be able to give you a project you like better. A lot of this might seem like a massive ba**-ache - it is.

Thanks Frio and sorry If I came across as patronising. I understand all that you say and also agree in terms of expanding my network and I am doing that through my interests/volunteering etc. My problem is more a very evident favouritism and it is bothering me more because I will be on this project most likely through the middle of next year and can't survive feeling ignored or 3rd wheeled all the time with no appreciation of what I do and development ops. For now I am ignoring it and focusing on my work but can't be like that forever. So here are some specifics where I could do with some advice :- How open and honest can I be with my Career Counsellor in terms of discussing such issues, in a way that it doesn't impact my probation (it shouldn't and will be sad if such things have an impact) as well as progression.- How does it normally work at a place like Accenture raising concerns like these directly with the Manager? (again in a way so it doesn't impact career)- Can I look at changing a project middle way should it get really bad and beyond a point of tolerance , if so how do I go about doing it? Or will it have a negative impact.The concerns are slightly magnified being I am a new joiner and rarely felt part of the team

Any views/tips available ?Happy New Year in advance!ThanksG

Keep the one above you happy by sucking up to them. The only tip!!

Hello AllI really need some advice because it is now got to a point where either I do want to raise it with my manager or MD.There are far too many private conversations, too much focus on development of the other person and none on mine.. worst is manager doesn't even remember conversations we have . From next meeting onwards I will always track it with an email... At this point it is almost like I am doing all the dog work ( I don't have a problem with that , at least should be aware of what they are doing) The inequality of treatment is bothering me a lot, its almost like a high school sorority . If the advice is to just let it pass (considering I am here on this project for a long time- It will be tough) then please tell me how to? Will me career counsellor be able to help?Thanks for your help.G

Which geography are you working in? The difficulty you will have is positioning the conversation with your line manager or MD.What's the demonstrable complaint that you have? Far too many private conversations? Perhaps the Manager and your colleague are talking about personal matters? You have no way of telling, but if you approach your Manager or MD with this then I would suggest it won't go well for you.Evident favoritism? Do you have evidence that this is the case?Focuses on the other's development? Perhaps the other person needs the development more than you or has asked for help. Have you asked for help with your development? I re-read my email from last year and my advice is still around those points. If you approach your MD with your complaints there's a danger you will look petty.Focus on the outcome you want - which is to clearly roll-off from your project. You'll achieve this by building a network and doing well in your current work.I'd talk to your CC about your lack of objectives etc - I left Accenture prior to the implementation of the new performance system, but I believe that it's based upon achievement of objectives set by your project. If that's not happening then your CC needs to know.

After a decade at Accenture - I can tell you that there this is an extremely competitive firm. You are in the shark tank my friend - and you either grow a set of sharp teeth, or you become fish food....It sounds like you are very "process orientated" in the sense that you have an almost text book expectation of how performance should be measured and managed, irrespective of the style and attributes of your manager. My first piece of advice is to forget this and try to learn some 'street smarts'. Accenture is all about reading, assessing and, ultimately, manipulating people. If your manager is not respecting your meeting schedule and/or is having hush-hush conversations then this can only mean one thing - you haven't gelled with them. This could be a cultural or a personality issue - but you need to understand quickly what it is and address it. Unfortunately this may require a wholly unwarranted look at your own behaviour - you cannot change the Accenture machine, but you can potentially adapt - the degree of which depends upon your own ambitions and sense of pride. If you can identify what it is then you can then look as to whether to adapt yourself or to even ask yourself if you can work in this environment.My honest advice would be this:1) Chalk this up to a "bad project" (I had the same experience in my first project - it's OK)2) Ensure you are rolled off asap whilst networking your damdest to find something which interests you - and where you feel your skills will be best used3) Take this new project, be politically savvy from the start and make it work for youLook - everyone has a bad project, sometimes you need to know when to try and make it work and when to walk away. In this case I would suggest, based upon what you have said, to walk away...Arby

Thanks Frio and Arby, this will go up in my bad projects bucket and in the meantime just focus on what I want to get out of the project from learning & networking perspective. And street smartness is what is needed! Frio- I am in the UK I will be speaking to my CC next week and see how the conversation goes.Many thanksG

Good luck!