Some cracking office politics going on here atm. As keen readers of this thread will know, I've had a verbal agreement for about 18 months that I'm going to take over from the ancient South American sales manager, though have nothing in the way of concrete offers or a clear timetable for this to happen, so I'm taking it with a pinch of salt.
Meanwhile, 'the boss', who you may remember from me having gone around Spain for a week watching him leave all his food, has come under pressure from our new South African owners. They've kept him on - but it seems to be shit or get off the pot time for him in terms of driving a big increase in European sales. He phoned me this morning to issue a big dressing room rallying cry - we need to get every deal, and the ones we don't you need to send an excuse to management as to why we didn't. He's also promised to bung me even more money than he currently does (he sends me illicit monthly payments to keep me on his team) if we do well each month.
Finally, he said: "Oh, and I asked them about your South American gig". I said yeah? He said "Yeah, the intention is still for you to take over." I said well, fine, but there's no timetable, is there? This has been vaguely promised for 18 months. The boss said "Well, you know, you've got to think about your own prospects. You could turn around and say you're better off with me."
I'm now wondering who is trying to play me and why. I'm guessing the best move is just to sit tight and see what happens, as it usually is in life, but I might be in a stronger position than I thought I was.